Thread: Photon processing timing

When a photon strikes an atom, how long does it take for the atom to "process" the photon, and if the conditions are right, re-emit it? The time it takes being too low does not count...I am talking about ANY delay whatsoever, down to 1 trillionth to the trillionth power of a nano second. If so, is this delay consistent at all points in time, and does it vary with any condition including the color or angle of impact of the photon varying?

Thanks.

i think one of the results of quantum mechanics or perhaps it is one of the rules is that there is no delay between the photon incident on the surface and the electron being emitted

ok, thanks. I hope you are right. If you aren't, there goes my future experiment : )

if we think in traditional way like "photons doesn't have a massive body" that should be true to clarify but what if we can't calculate the massive body in light speed."c" .

Originally Posted by Cold Fusion

When a photon strikes an atom, how long does it take for the atom to "process" the photon, and if the conditions are right, re-emit it? The time it takes being too low does not count...I am talking about ANY delay whatsoever, down to 1 trillionth to the trillionth power of a nano second. If so, is this delay consistent at all points in time, and does it vary with any condition including the color or angle of impact of the photon varying?

Thanks.

I depends on the specific atoms involved. When a laser rod is "pumped" electrons are put into a metastable state by photons, are stored there for a considerable period of time and are released en masse by stimulated emission due to more photons.