The speed of light in a medium

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The speed of light decreases when it travels through different media due to interactions with the particles in that medium. This reduction in speed is not caused by gravitational forces but rather by the absorption and re-emission of photons by atoms, which delays their overall progress. The FAQs provide additional insights into how light behaves in various materials, clarifying common misconceptions. Understanding these principles is essential for grasping the fundamental nature of light and its interactions. Engaging with these resources can enhance comprehension of the topic.
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The speed of light changes according to the medium that its in and I don't understand why. Is it because each particles in the medium has a bit of gravitational forces so that the light doesn't travel in a straight line, or perhaps because of something else?
 
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There is an FAQ on the subject: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/do-photons-move-slower-in-a-solid-medium.511177/
 
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DrClaude said:
There is an FAQ on the subject: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/do-photons-move-slower-in-a-solid-medium.511177/
Thanks I'll make sure I check the FAQs next time :)
 
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Thread 'Two equivalent statements of time reversal symmetric Hamiltonian'

Time reversal invariant Hamiltonians must satisfy ##[H,\Theta]=0## where ##\Theta## is time reversal operator. However, in some texts (for example see Many-body Quantum Theory in Condensed Matter Physics an introduction, HENRIK BRUUS and KARSTEN FLENSBERG, Corrected version: 14 January 2016, section 7.1.4) the time reversal invariant condition is introduced as ##H=H^*##. How these two conditions are identical?
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