What Happens to a Photon When Light is Reflected?

AI Thread Summary
When light is reflected from a surface, the discussion centers on the behavior of photons during this process. The first viewpoint suggests that photons simply bounce off the surface, while the second posits that a photon is absorbed and a new one is emitted. The third perspective argues that discussing individual photon paths is not meaningful, as they only exist at detection points. The consensus leans towards the idea that the second view, involving absorption and re-emission, is correct. Understanding these interactions is crucial for grasping the principles of quantum electrodynamics.
PhilipF
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I have been reading Feynmanns 'QED' and am trying to understand what happens when light is reflected from a surface. I would be grateful if someone could answer the following question. I am not sure which of these views (if any) is correct.
1) When light is reflected from a surface a photon bounces of that surface
2) When light is reflected from a surface a photon is absorbed and another is emitted
3) It is not meaningful to talk about the path of individual photons , they can only be said to exist at the point of detection by some instrument.
 
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#2 is correct.
 
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