this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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Science Memes

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[–] Neato@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That is wrong. Stochastic yes. Photons emission is probabilistic. Destructive interference causes emission to overwhelming follow classical wave theory. Here's a better explanation with a neat graphic.

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/466/what-is-the-mechanism-behind-the-slowdown-of-light-photons-in-a-transparent-medi

[–] Entropius@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

It sounds like you’re conflating different concepts. A stochastic process like absorption/reemission would blur the light, so that’s not it. And the linked explanation is basically correct (in classical physics at least), but it doesn’t corroborate what you originally claimed as that’s not necessarily requiring absorbing anything. Photons can jiggle the charged particles in glass and get them to make new phase shifted light despite not being absorbed.

https://youtu.be/YW8KuMtVpug

https://youtu.be/CiHN0ZWE5bk