I am from material science and would like to understand in a simple manner how particle physicists would explain refractive index as the cross section of interaction between photon and electron of the material.
Dear Arun Palakkandy
The refractive index indicates the ability of the material to decrease the speed of light that depends on how closely the atoms are molecules present in that media and also depends on type of atoms present in that optical media. If the atoms energy levels matches with the incident photon energy then resonance absorption make also takes place as a result the atoms will excites to higher energy levels.
Example: RI of glass is more than water this tells us the glass material obstructs more to the flow of light than that of water. Higher RI indicate the media in which the speed of light is less.
Dear Sreenatha,
Thank you for your reply. Yes you are right. However, I am looking for a little bit of mathematics too. I am expecting the mathematics to give explicit answers as does wavelength or frequency of wave change in media. Also, am looking if this treatment would help understanding formation of ordinary and extra-ordinary waves etc.
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