Understanding Reflection in Light: Electromagnetic Interactions with Matter

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the reflection of light and its interactions with matter, specifically focusing on electromagnetic interactions and the underlying principles of scattering and absorption. Participants explore theoretical aspects and personal recollections of relevant literature.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the electromagnetic interactions of electrons with light lead to translucency or absorption, and seeks clarification on the mechanism of reflection.
  • Another participant suggests referring to Feynman's book "QED: the strange theory of light and matter" for insights on the topic.
  • A participant expresses familiarity with the book but notes it is currently inaccessible, mentioning difficulties in recalling specific details from their previous readings.
  • There is a mention of internal reflections and phase changes, along with a personal assertion of uncertainty regarding the conceptualization of matter as composed of space and its boundaries.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the mechanisms of light reflection and the nature of matter, indicating ongoing uncertainty and differing viewpoints.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific concepts and diagrams from literature, but there are limitations in recalling details and assumptions about the nature of matter and light interactions.

_PJ_
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If light encounters -normal- matter, the electromagnetic aspects of the influence of the electrons will be interacted with (I'm ignoring any stress contributuins to gravity) which is (scattering matrix?) either nothing at all (translucency) due to quantisation, or absorption.

Is this correct?

If so, how is it that light be reflected?
 
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_PJ_ said:
If so, how is it that light be reflected?
You might want to give Feynman's book "QED: the strange theory of light and matter" a try.
 
Yrs i have that book, unfortunately, it's in storage, and I've not seen an english-language version here. Sadly I am unable to memorise entire chapters I had read over ten years ago.
 
I do recall passages and diagrams concerning internal reflections and the phase-changes as result but the details are fuzzy now. Also, I seem to recall diagrams where light was an oscillating line and matter had a ' surface' marked by a continuous, thin line...

I am unconvinced that matter is composed of space thus bounded.
 

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