Do Atomic Particles Absorb or Reflect Light?

[jobyts]

Do atomic particles absorb light, or reflect them?

 

[Integral]

Adsorb, then re-emit at possibily different wavelengths.

 

[Claude Bile]

There are lots of ways atoms interact with light, the probability of a particular interaction occurring depends on the wavelength of the light and the optical properties of the object that the light is interacting with.

Claude.

 

[jobyts]

There are lots of ways atoms interact with light, the probability of a particular interaction occurring depends on the wavelength of the light and the optical properties of the object that the light is interacting with.

Claude.

Assuming we have just one electron, at what wavelength of the electro-magnetic wave it can penetrate through the electron?

 

[Claude Bile]

A single unbound electron will scatter the incoming wave like crazy, no matter what the wavelength is (some scattered radiation can be regarded as having "passed through" the electron). This is because an unbound electron has a continuum of energy states, as opposed to discrete energy states possessed by an electron bound to a parent atom.

Claude.

 

[jobyts]

Allright. Imagine I have a theoretical microscope that is powerful enough to see upto the subatomic particle level. If I look at an oxygen atom through that microscope, and if I bombard that nucleus with just one photon, what difference would I see? Similarly, if I bombard an electron in the oxygen atom with a photon, what would I see?

well, I might not see anything, unless that photon reflected back to my retina; my concern is what change happened to the particle and to the photon?

 

[Claude Bile]

The photons from such a powerful microscope would ionise anything they touched.

Claude.

 

[Idjot]

I found this thread named "Light's interaction with particles"

Scroll down to the post by Astronuc and I think you'll find your answer and then some.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=77108