Photon Interaction: A Comprehensive Guide

[vivitar02]

I have read so much, please put me straight on "photon interaction"

1. My photon hits matter.

2. It interacts with the atoms of that matter.

3. The electron (say) energy level transition (High->Low) spawns photon(s) of lower energy levels?

4. My photon is now other photon(s) but energy conserved ?

5. In terms of refraction, is this what is the happening??

 

[Joseph14]

what do you mean by refraction?

I think the emitted photon can travel in a different direction then the absorbed one.

The process your asking about is called fluorescence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescence

 

[ZapperZ]

I have read so much, please put me straight on "photon interaction"

1. My photon hits matter.

2. It interacts with the atoms of that matter.

3. The electron (say) energy level transition (High->Low) spawns photon(s) of lower energy levels?

4. My photon is now other photon(s) but energy conserved ?

5. In terms of refraction, is this what is the happening??

It appears that you are asking about photon transport in a solid, or at least, not in some isolated atomic gas. You might want to start by reading an entry in our FAQ thread in the general physics forum. Read the entry on the influences of lattice vibrations (phonons) on transport properties.

"Refraction" has something to do with the delay in the wavefronts of LARGE number of photons, not just a single photon. This delay manifests itself when you come in at an angle at the interface of two medium with different index of refraction.

Zz.

 

[jambaugh]

You can think of various processes either as changing the given photon or as an absorption and re-emission process. The thing to remember is that photons and other quanta do not have serial numbers to tell us if when we see one go in, it is the same one or a different one coming out.

Huygens principle says we can treat wave propagation as if it were a continual absorption re-emission process. There is no physical difference in distinguishing between saying "this photon recoiled off the mirror" vs "this photon was absorbed by the mirror and another emitted".

We should in general avoid definite identification of photons. Never speak of "the photon" or "my photon" only speak of "a photon" e.g.

"A photon went in(to the prism) with momentum p, a photon came out with momentum q."

Saying it is the same one or saying it is is a different one, are both statements about that which we cannot observe and so that which is meaningless in science.