This discussion centers on the fundamental nature of light, addressing key concepts such as photon emission, reflection, and the electromagnetic wave model. Participants clarify that light is emitted when electrons transition between energy levels, and that photons propagate in all directions. The conversation also highlights that light from reflective surfaces is primarily reflected rather than absorbed and re-emitted, with no energy loss in the process. Additionally, the discussion emphasizes the need for a solid understanding of multi-variable calculus and Maxwell's equations to grasp the complexities of electromagnetic waves and quantum mechanics.
PREREQUISITESStudents and professionals in physics, particularly those focused on optics, quantum mechanics, and electromagnetic theory, will benefit from this discussion. It is also valuable for educators seeking to clarify complex concepts related to light and its properties.
reilly said:GRB 080319B -- Once again, let me suggest that to answer your questions, and for you to understand the answers is an exercise of three years of study -- two if you are really quick. That is to say, you will need to understand and master most of Jackson's E&M text, and then master a basic course in QM, and then master an introductory course in quantum electrodynamics. Look at it as: the answers to your questions will take several hundred pages of text. For the level of specificity you request, there are not any short cuts. That's life in the physics world. (If you don't understand thermal radiation, then you are in trouble, and thus you need a course or book on the physical phenomena that lead to quantum theory -- often advertised a a beginning course in atomic physics -- like Planck and Einstein and Bohr. If you do not have a good grasp of the basic atomic physics involved, you will never understand light.
Good luck,.
Reilly Atkinson