Interaction of Radiation with Matter

[Macedo Junior]

I would like to understand more about refraction phenomenum from the point of view of interaction of photons with matter. I know that refraction phenomenum can be explained by change of speed of light when it passes through a transparent material medium. We are accustomed to study interaction of photons with matter, just showing examples with x-rays and gamma-rays, that are electromagnetic waves of high energy, from the processes of scattering. Would be interesting to treat the refraction phenomenum based on the processes of interaction of photons with matter.

 

[glueball8]

hi, there's something called bragg equations. It might be a good place to start.

 

[Bob S]

Chapter 7 of Jackson "Classical Electrodynamics" 2nd Ed. covers propagation of plane waves in nonconducting media using Maxwell's equations, and in Sec, 7.3 identifies n (index of refraction) as sqrt(ε) (dielectric constant). He also derives Snell's law. He also shows in Eq 7.3 that v=c/sqrt(ε). So basically, radiation interacts with the dielectric constant to slow the plane wave down.

α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ ς σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω

 

[Macedo Junior]

Thanks for everything!

 

[sardar]

Sure, I would be happy to provide some insight on the interaction of radiation with matter, specifically in the context of refraction phenomenon. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a medium with a different optical density, such as from air to water. This bending occurs due to the interaction between photons, which are the particles of light, and the atoms and molecules that make up the material medium.

When a photon enters a medium, it interacts with the electric fields of the atoms and molecules within that medium. This interaction causes the photon to slow down, as it is absorbed and re-emitted by the atoms and molecules. The degree to which the photon is slowed down depends on the density and composition of the medium.

In the case of refraction, the speed of light is slowed down more in the denser medium, causing the light to bend towards the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the medium). This is because the photons are interacting more frequently and more strongly with the atoms and molecules in the denser medium.

On the other hand, when the light exits the denser medium and enters a less dense medium, the photons are able to travel faster and thus bend away from the normal. This is why we see a change in direction of light when it passes through a medium with a different density.

It is important to note that this interaction between photons and matter is not limited to just high-energy radiation such as x-rays and gamma-rays. It occurs with all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. The only difference is the degree to which the photons are slowed down and thus the amount of refraction that occurs.

In summary, refraction phenomenon can be explained by the interaction of photons with matter, specifically the slowing down of light as it passes through a medium with a different density. This is just one example of the many ways in which radiation and matter interact, and it is an important concept to understand in the study of optics and other fields of science. I hope this helps to clarify the role of photon-matter interaction in refraction phenomenon.