Photons chances of combining with electrons

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the interaction between photons and electrons, specifically regarding material transparency to visible light. It is established that transparency occurs when photons pass through materials where electrons cannot absorb their energy to transition to higher energy bands. The conversation also addresses the misconception about photons' interactions, clarifying that while photons are chargeless and small, they can still interact with electrons due to electromagnetic forces. The user expresses a desire to understand the underlying attraction forces that enable these interactions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of photon and electron properties
  • Familiarity with energy bands in materials
  • Knowledge of electromagnetic forces
  • Concept of the photovoltaic effect
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the electromagnetic force and its role in particle interactions
  • Study energy band theory in solid-state physics
  • Explore the photovoltaic effect in detail
  • Investigate the properties and behavior of neutrinos compared to photons
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, materials scientists, and anyone interested in the fundamental interactions between light and matter.

reformist
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I am curious about the transparency of some materials to visible light. My physics is patchy and self taught, so I am hoping you can fill in a gap for me, or correct a misconception. So, transparency comes about when the light in question passes through a material with electrons that cannot accept the photons energy to jump to a different energy band (or get bumped from their atoms -photovoltaic effect?) In opaque materials then, there must be a compatability between energy availble from photon and energy gap for the materials electrons. Even if this is not right, I am at peace with this explanation! However, I thought the photon has no electric charge, and is very small. I have read that neutrinos speed through us without reaction constantly, and the properties for attaction to other particles of a photon do not sound too different, so why do they not just pass through unaffected too? How come so many of them manage to hit an electron? What is the attraction force I am not aware of?
 
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Please start by reading the https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=209 in the General Physics forum.

Zz.
 

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