Can a single photon be reflected by a mirror?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the behavior of a single photon when it encounters a mirror, specifically whether it can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted. Participants explore the implications of quantum mechanics on this phenomenon and the statistical nature of photon interactions with mirrors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if a mirror absorbs a portion of a photon's energy, the photon should cease to exist, as it cannot be smaller than a single photon.
  • Others argue that when a single photon is shot at a mirror, it can be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed based on certain probabilities, similar to the behavior of a beam of light composed of many photons.
  • A later reply suggests that the chance of reflection or absorption for a single photon corresponds to the classical percentage of light reflected by the mirror.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of a single photon interacting with a mirror, with no consensus reached on whether a photon can be reflected or absorbed without ceasing to exist.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the statistical nature of quantum mechanics and the dependence on probabilities, but does not resolve the underlying assumptions about energy absorption and the existence of photons.

Ebi Rogha
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TL;DR
I understand mirrors absorb a small energy portion of the light and reflect most of it. What happens if we shoot a single photon to a mirror? Would it be reflected?
If the answer is Yes, then I would ask, if the mirror absorbs a portion of the energy of the photon, so the photon should simply stop existing because we cannot have a smaller package of light than a photon.

If the answer is No, then I would ask why a beam of light (which is made of a big number of photons) behaves differently.
 
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Ebi Rogha said:
Summary:: I understand mirrors absorb a small energy portion of the light and reflect most of it. What happens if we shoot a single photon to a mirror? Would it be reflected?
If you shoot single photons to a mirror: Statistically, some will be reflected, some will be transmitted through the mirror medium and some will be absorbed by the mirror medium.
 
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Ebi Rogha said:
Summary:: I understand mirrors absorb a small energy portion of the light and reflect most of it. What happens if we shoot a single photon to a mirror? Would it be reflected?

If the answer is Yes, then I would ask, if the mirror absorbs a portion of the energy of the photon, so the photon should simply stop existing because we cannot have a smaller package of light than a photon.

If the answer is No, then I would ask why a beam of light (which is made of a big number of photons) behaves differently.
A single photon is reflected or absorbed according to certain probabilities (as with everything in QM). In a beam of photons, some are reflected and some are absorbed.
 
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Ebi Rogha said:
What happens if we shoot a single photon to a mirror? Would it be reflected?
Maybe. There is a chance that it would and a chance that it wouldn’t. That chance (not coincidentally) is equal to the percentage of light that is reflected classically.
 
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