- #1
franco1991
- 20
- 0
In terms of saturated absorption of EM waves, is the following correct?:
The material only has so many atoms that can absorb photons, so if there are more photons that there are atoms, the atoms cannot absorb all the photons, and thus a certain percentage of the photons pass through.
OR alternatively is it that all the atoms becomes excited, and the time it takes to re-emit the photons increases, such that SUBSEQUENT application of photons results in less absorption.
Additional details:
If the first is correct, that there aren't enough atoms to absorb every photon, then could one not decrease the intensity of light required to reach saturated absorption in a material by decreasing the number of atoms (in the wave's path) rather than increasing the intensity of the EM wave?
The material only has so many atoms that can absorb photons, so if there are more photons that there are atoms, the atoms cannot absorb all the photons, and thus a certain percentage of the photons pass through.
OR alternatively is it that all the atoms becomes excited, and the time it takes to re-emit the photons increases, such that SUBSEQUENT application of photons results in less absorption.
Additional details:
If the first is correct, that there aren't enough atoms to absorb every photon, then could one not decrease the intensity of light required to reach saturated absorption in a material by decreasing the number of atoms (in the wave's path) rather than increasing the intensity of the EM wave?