Tag: Photons
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Chapter 13: Scattered Photons and Compton Scattering
13.1 Introduction to Compton Scattering Compton scattering is a phenomenon that occurs when an incident photon interacts with a free or weakly bound electron, resulting in a decrease in the energy (increase in the wavelength) of the scattered photon. This interaction demonstrates both the wave-like and particle-like nature of electromagnetic radiation, as it can be…
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Chapter 12: Emitted Photons: X-Ray Production
12.1 Introduction to X-Ray Production X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from about 0.01 nm to 10 nm. They have numerous applications in medical imaging, material analysis, and security scanning. In this chapter, we will discuss the process of x-ray production, which involves the interaction between high-energy electrons and matter. 12.2…
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Chapter 11: Absorbed Photons and the Photoelectric Effect
11.1 Introduction to the Photoelectric Effect The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon where light shining on a material causes the emission of electrons. This effect played a crucial role in the development of quantum mechanics, as it provided evidence for the particle-like nature of light and led to the concept of photons as discrete packets…
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Casimir-Polder Force
Introduction The Casimir-Polder force is a physical force arising from quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field in vacuum. It was first described by Dutch physicists Hendrik Casimir and Dirk Polder in 1948, who were investigating the interactions between molecules and a dielectric body. Quantum Electrodynamics and Vacuum Fluctuations Quantum electrodynamics (QED) tells us that even…
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Photoelectric Effect
Introduction The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon in quantum physics in which electrons are ejected from the surface of a material (typically a metal) when light of a certain frequency or higher is shone upon it. This discovery provided key evidence for the quantum nature of light and was explained by Albert Einstein in 1905,…
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Yarkovsky Effect
Introduction The Yarkovsky Effect is the force acting on a rotating body in space caused by the anisotropic emission of thermal photons (which carry momentum). This effect is named after the engineer Ivan Osipovich Yarkovsky, who first proposed the idea. This effect plays a significant role in the dynamics of small celestial bodies, such as…