Tranform photon to other energy

  • Context: High School 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the transformation of photon energy and the interactions of photons with other particles, particularly in the context of physics principles. Participants explore whether photons can transform into other forms of energy and how they interact with charged particles like electrons.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that photons can transform into other forms of energy when absorbed by matter.
  • There is a question about whether light, which consists of photons, is absorbed when it hits an object.
  • One participant speculates on the consequences of a photon being "destructed," suggesting it could lead to increased internal energy, as experienced when exposed to sunlight.
  • A participant describes an extreme case of photon energy transformation involving Compton scattering, where a photon collides with an electron and gains significant energy.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about photons interacting with electrons due to their neutral charge, prompting further explanation about the nature of photon interactions.
  • It is explained that photons interact with charged particles through their electric and magnetic fields, and the nature of these interactions varies with energy levels.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of photon interactions with electrons, with some asserting that photons can interact despite being neutral, while others question this premise. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of photon transformation and interaction.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various scattering phenomena (Rayleigh, Thomson, Compton) to illustrate different interaction scenarios, but the discussion does not resolve the underlying assumptions about photon behavior.

kevinsetiono
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hi guys i want to ask you about something . Energy can not be made or destruct , but it can TRANSFORM to other energy . my question is can photon transform to other energy ? :zzz:
 
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russ : how about the light ? if light hits something , will it absorbed ?
 
Isn't that the same question? Light is photons, after all.
 
what will be if photon of light destruct ?
 
kevinsetiono said:
what will be if photon of light destruct ?
Increased internal energy. Consider what happens when you sit out in the sun: you get hot.
 
Here is an extreme case of photon energy transformation. Shoot a laser beam of 1-eV photons headlong into a 1-GeV electron beam (γ=1960). The photon Compton scatters off the electron and back along the same direction as the incident electron. The energy of the backscattered photon is 4γ2·1 eV = 15 MeV.
 
Bob S said:
Here is an extreme case of photon energy transformation. Shoot a laser beam of 1-eV photons headlong into a 1-GeV electron beam (γ=1960). The photon Compton scatters off the electron and back along the same direction as the incident electron. The energy of the backscattered photon is 4γ2·1 eV = 15 MeV.
i just think if photon is neutral , it can not be affected by electron , i guess
 
  • #10
kevinsetiono said:
i just think if photon is neutral , it can not be affected by electron , i guess

Photons easily interact with charged particles including electrons.
 
  • #11
Drakkith said:
Photons easily interact with charged particles including electrons.
can you explain why this happen , i just think if neutral charged can not be affected by positive charge or negative one
 
  • #12
kevinsetiono said:
i just think if photon is neutral , it can not be affected by electron , i guess

kevinsetiono said:
can you explain why this happen , i just think if neutral charged can not be affected by positive charge or negative one
The photon is comprised of a transverse E field and an orthogonal transverse H field. It is the transverse E field that interacts with charged particles. At very low energies photons interact with the entire atom, like in Rayleigh scattering of sunlight (blue sky). At higher energies, photons interact with individual electrons, and this is called Thomson scattering. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson_scattering. At relativistic energies, it is called Compton scattering.

The cross ection for Thomson scattering is about 0.665 barns = 0.665 x 10-24 cm2.

.
 

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