Mirror Reflexion: Does Photon Remain Unchanged?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of photons during mirror reflection, specifically whether a reflected photon remains unchanged. Participants assert that all photons are identical, making the question of sameness irrelevant since no experiment can determine if a photon is the same post-reflection. The process involves an incoming photon being absorbed by an electron in the mirror and then re-emitted, a phenomenon explained through basic electrostatics. The consensus is that while the photon is re-emitted, its identity remains a matter of personal interpretation.

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In case of mirror reflexion, a photon reflected is the same ?
There´s some atomic process in this fenomena ?
:blushing:
 
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As all particles are identical
the question 'is it the same' does not have any sense, because there is no experiment in principle which can determine if it is the same or not.
 
Dmitry67 said:
As all particles are identical
the question 'is it the same' does not have any sense, because there is no experiment in principle which can determine if it is the same or not.

I mean, is the photon "reflected" at atomic level ?
There´s a magnetic fenomena in this ?
 
light can't penetrate a conductor. the conduction electrons will move so as to cancel out any electric field in the conductor. as a result the light is reflected from the surface. this is basic electrostatics
 
live4physics: the incoming photon is absorbed by an electron in the mirror, and then re-emitted almost immediately. Whether you consider this to be "the same" photon or not I suppose is up for personal interpretation.
 

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