Light bouncing off the surface. Metals are highly reflective because their "free" electrons can oscillate rapidly to cancel out the incoming field.
Energy from photons is transferred to the solid. This happens when the photon energy matches the energy gap between electronic states.
), which relate to how electrons and atoms oscillate when hit by an electric field. 1. Fundamental Interactions Optical Properties of Solids
An increase in electrical conductivity caused by light absorption (used in light sensors).
At its core, the response of a solid to light is determined by its ( ) and its dielectric function ( Light bouncing off the surface
, it can kick an electron from the valence band to the conduction band, causing absorption.
Made of ultra-pure glass with extremely low absorption ( ) to carry data over thousands of miles. This happens when the photon energy matches the
): Determines the speed of light in the material and how much it "bends" (refraction). Extinction Coefficient (