Light in electrostatic potential

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and strong electrostatic fields, exploring whether light can be reflected or confined within an electrostatic potential well. The scope includes classical and quantum perspectives on this interaction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue from a classical perspective that light does not interact with itself, suggesting that the electromagnetic field would simply be the sum of the electrostatic field and the radiated field.
  • Others propose that from a quantum perspective, scattering between photons could occur through the exchange of virtual particles, although they note that such effects are significantly suppressed.
  • One participant raises a question about whether scattered photons would change their courses or wavelengths, indicating uncertainty about the implications of scattering.
  • A later reply references "Delbruck scattering," suggesting that light can scatter in the Coulomb field of a nucleus, which may imply some interaction with electrostatic fields.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interaction of light with electrostatic fields, with no consensus reached on whether reflection or confinement of light is possible.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the nature of electromagnetic fields and the conditions under which scattering may occur, as well as the dependence on definitions of interaction in classical versus quantum frameworks.

lightarrow
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Is electromagnetic radiation affected, in any way, by a strong electrostatic field (or gradient of field)? Specifically, is it possible to reflect light with such a field or to confine an EM wave inside an electrostatic potential well?
 
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From a classical point of view: no. Light does not interact with itself, therefore the resulting electromagnetic field would just be the sum of the electrostatic field and the radiated field.

From a quantum point of view scattering between photons is possible through the exchange of virtual electrons/positrons. However, it's contributions are of order [itex]\alpha^4[/itex] and higher, so these effects are severely suppressed.

But come to think of it, the electrostatic field doesn't store any momentum (you need a magnetic field as well for that), but the radiated field does. Conservation of momentum in the direction of propagation can't be violated, so reflection would be impossible.
 
If photons got scattered then do they change courses ? How about wave lengths ?
 
lightarrow said:
Is electromagnetic radiation affected, in any way, by a strong electrostatic field (or gradient of field)? Specifically, is it possible to reflect light with such a field or to confine an EM wave inside an electrostatic potential well?

You may wish to google "delbruck scattering" - this is scattering of light in the Coulomb field of a nucleus.
 

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