How reflection and refraction of light are expressed at the particle level?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the expression of reflection and refraction of light at the particle level, exploring both theoretical and conceptual aspects of these phenomena in the context of quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant references Feynman's book on QED, suggesting that light behaves as waves that spread out from a source, with results influenced by constructive or destructive interference.
  • Another participant inquires about the basis for the angles of reflection and refraction when photons interact with subatomic particles in matter.
  • A response indicates that when a photon strikes an atom, it is scattered in various directions, with intensity and polarization varying based on factors like relative motion and the properties of the scattering object.
  • One participant emphasizes that discussing refraction in terms of individual photons is insufficient, arguing that the interaction must consider the collective behavior of photons across a medium rather than treating them as discrete particles.
  • This participant advocates for a wave-based approach to solving problems related to light behavior, suggesting that both particle and wave descriptions are valid but that waves may offer a more convenient framework.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of using particle versus wave models to describe light behavior, indicating that there is no consensus on the best approach to understand reflection and refraction at the particle level.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of light interactions at the quantum level, including the need for assumptions about the nature of photons and their interactions with matter, which remain unresolved.

netqwe
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How reflection and refraction of light expressed at the particles level ?
Thanks in advance
 
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See Feynman's book on QED.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691164096/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Basically, you have these waves. And they spread out from a source in all directions. And you see the result based on constructive or destructive interference. He works through several examples, with really quite lovely diagrams and easy (As easy as quantum mechanics gets!) descriptions.
 
Thanks , do you know base on what the reflection and refraction angle created
after photons hit the matter subatomic particles ?
 
netqwe said:
Thanks , do you know base on what the reflection and refraction angle created
after photons hit the matter subatomic particles ?

Yes. As explained in the book, it is a little something like so. When a photon strikes an atom, etc., it is scattered in all directions. In some situations it is scattered with different intensity in some directions, or with differing polarization, depending on things such as relative motion of source and scattering object, and polarity of scattering object. The resulting observed situation again depends on constructive or destructive interference.

Please read the book. All I could do would be to copy his wording and pictures. And that would be a waste of both our times.
 
DEvens said:
When a photon strikes an atom, etc.,
But the effect of a solid or liquid medium on the direction of light does not involve just one photon and one atom. IF you really want to discuss refraction in terms of photons, then you have to consider the interaction of individual photons with the whole structure. (i.e. you cannot talk in terms of a photon, like a little bullet, hitting a specific part of the surface; it has to be considered as if it could be everywhere over a large region. This is a good reason for solving such problems in terms of waves! Neither approach is any more or less valid for describing EM radiation so why not choose the most convenient one?
 

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