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enroger0
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Just read Feynmen's QFT and been wondering the difference between photon reflection by a perfect mirror and photon scatter by say a rough surface.
In both cases, photons are said to be absorbed by electrons and re-emitted.
But in reflection case, photons get to "preserve" its wave information (wavefunction never collapse, phase increase by pi/2). I think in QFT, photons are said to have virtual interaction with all the electrons on the mirror?
In scattering case, photon is absorbed by a specific electron and re-emitted, destroying all wave information.
So what decide photon when to be reflected when to be scattered?
Thanks for the help, just a curious laymen here.
In both cases, photons are said to be absorbed by electrons and re-emitted.
But in reflection case, photons get to "preserve" its wave information (wavefunction never collapse, phase increase by pi/2). I think in QFT, photons are said to have virtual interaction with all the electrons on the mirror?
In scattering case, photon is absorbed by a specific electron and re-emitted, destroying all wave information.
So what decide photon when to be reflected when to be scattered?
Thanks for the help, just a curious laymen here.
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