Chalnoth
Science Advisor
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Not quite. The refractive index is a purely electromagnetic phenomenon, resulting from how charged particles respond to the incoming electromagnetic wave. So, for example, massive particles can move faster through a medium with some refractive index than light. For charged particles, this causes Cherenkov Radiation.Agent M27 said:To my understanding any particle which has no mass requires no medium to propogate, but will propogate through a medium dependent upon its refractive index.