What happens to photons that don't get absorbed by a chromophore in the eye?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of photons that do not get absorbed by chromophores in the eye. When a photon, such as a "green" photon, encounters a chromophore that absorbs red light, it passes through without being absorbed. The subsequent fate of the photon involves interaction with surrounding tissues, which may absorb it, leading to a temperature increase rather than a visual signal. Additionally, the discussion clarifies that while chromophores are selective in generating signals to the optic nerve, they can absorb photons of varying wavelengths, albeit without triggering a response.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of chromophores and their role in vision
  • Basic knowledge of photon behavior and light absorption
  • Familiarity with the anatomy of the eye, particularly retinal tissues
  • Concept of thermal absorption in biological tissues
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanisms of light absorption in biological tissues
  • Explore the properties of different chromophores and their absorption spectra
  • Study the role of the optic nerve in visual signal transmission
  • Investigate the thermal effects of light absorption in materials like carbon black
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This discussion is beneficial for physicists, biologists, optometrists, and anyone interested in the mechanisms of vision and light absorption in biological systems.

mutatron
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I was explaining the physics of colors to someone in another forum, but I came to a point where I wasn't sure what happened next, what happens when a photon hits a chromophore in the eye and isn't the right energy to be absorbed by it.

So, suppose a "green" photon hits a chromophore that absorbs in the red. The photon goes straight past it, but then what happens? To me it seems like it would be absorbed by the next tissues it passes through, but if so, what is the mechanism of absorption there?

In a related question, what is the mechanism of absorption of photons hitting carbon black, for example?
 
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It gets absorbed in the other tissue that's not sensitive to light, so it only gets a bit warmer.
 
It's not really correct to say that particular chromophores only absorb particular wavelengths. Every chromophore will absorb every photon that strikes it - but only photons of the correct wavelength will trigger the chromophore to generate an electrical signal to the optic nerve.
 

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