Light in a medium: do phonons store light energy?

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Phonons in a transparent medium can absorb and re-emit light, potentially moving to a higher energy state during this process. This mechanism differs from electron interactions due to phonons having a continuous range of energy states. The absorption and re-emission of light by phonons introduces delays between interactions, which disrupts coherent transmission. Consequently, this results in significant scattering due to the varying phases of re-emitted waves. The discussion highlights the complexities of light behavior in mediums and the implications for coherent light transmission.
Habeebe
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When light travels through a transparent medium and is absorbed then re-emitted, do the phonons just move to a higher energy state after absorption? Is it the same as absorption and re-emission of light by electrons, aside from having a continuous range of available energies?
 
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Habeebe said:
absorption and re-emission of light by electrons,
That process would introduce an unknown delay between absorption and emission with each photon interaction. That would not sustain a coherent transmission through the medium. Drastic scattering would result from the spread in phases of each re-emitted wave.
 
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