Photon's momentum

[wigglieverse]

Do we have a good explanation of "what happens" when a photon of a given frequency is absorbed or emitted?

What accounts for the 'instantaneous' transfer of momentum, or do we have just a before and after viewpoint? Free electrons recoil when a photon 'collides' with them, right?

 

P.S. I realise there's another thread about photons; this is a more specific query about the nature of the actual 'transfer' of energy.

[snoopy]

Electrons can absorb energy from photons when irradiated, but they follow an "all or nothing" principle. All of the energy from one photon must be absorbed and used to liberate one electron from atomic binding, or the energy is re-emitted. If the photon energy is absorbed, some of the energy liberates the electron from the atom, and the rest contributes to the electron's kinetic energy as a free particle.

 

If it is re-emitted it is re-emitted following the relationship E=hv.

 

If it is absorbed it follows the relationship hf = W + Ekmax.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Peace

:)

[wigglieverse]

Thanks, just wanting to know if any ideas are around that try to look closer at this. The other thread has some good stuff about how electrons move, which is obviously related to my OP.

[snoopy]

Thanks, just wanting to know if any ideas are around that try to look closer at this. The other thread has some good stuff about how electrons move, which is obviously related to my OP.

 

 

Glad to have helped you, sorry I couldnt help you more with the entropy thing but its a very tricky question.

 

Peace

:phones: