Re: Quantum Function of Mirrors

"Igor Khavkine" <igor.kh@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:slrndgaqhj.2p5.igor.kh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> However, here the mirror
> is only taken into account through some of its bulk properties in the
> boundary conditions. I believe the original poster had a question about
> quantum modeling of reflection on the molecular level. That level of
> complexity is generically unnecessary and very difficult to use.

That's absolutely true. The molecular level is completely useless for
explaining
the phenomenon of reflection.
Since the wavelength of light is many orders of magnitude larger than the
interatomic distance, it is more than sufficient to treat the mirror as
a flat impenetrable barrier.

It is entirely different matter to explain why, for example, the piece of
silver is impenetrable for visible light while the piece of glass is
transparent.
To do that, one needs to perform electronic structure calculation for the
solid which should be done at the molecular level, of course.

Eugene.

.

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