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159 IHSPERSION AND SCATTERING [6-4]
158 PHYSICAL OPTICS II
In the presence of a sinusoidal field E =
Eo cos est, an electron experiences a
from which
force F =eEo cos wt in addition to the elastic force (- kx) tending to restore it to its
equilibrium position. Newton's second law gives
- kx + eEo cos wt= m d?x dt2 Thus a frequency-dependent dielectric constant results from even this simple
model. Equation (6-23) also shows that, when w is close to wo' KE becomes very large,
corresponding to a very small velocity of propagation. In that case energy is strongly
absorbed from the incident radiation. Our model contains no mechanism for energy
absorption, but one can easily be included by adding to the equation of motion [Eq. (6-
17)] a velocitydependent damping force as in a damped harmonic oscillator. The analysis
(6-17) will not be given in detail; Fig. 6-17 shows the variation of permittivity and energy
absorption with frequency for this model.
The phenomena illustrated by Fig. 6·17 are observed in many common materials.
As pointed out above, the resulting forced oscillation of the electron IS sinusoidal with
Ordinary glass has a dielectric constant which is very nearly independent of frequency at
the frequency w of the radiation: low frequencies; in the region of visible light nand KE increase with frequency, and the
x = A cos wt (6-18) material becomes opaque in the ultraviolet region. The quantitative details of the
preceding discussion should not be taken too seriously, but it does give some qualitative
where the amplitude A is to be determined. Substituting Eq. (6·18) and its second insight into the microscopic mechanisms of dispersion and absorption.
derivative into Eq. (6-17), we find that this is a solution of the differential equation only
A rather similar analysis leads to understanding of the scattering of light by air
if A obeys the condition - kA +. eEo =-mw2A, or
molecules, dust and smoke particles, crystal imperfections, and the like, leading to visual
phenomena such as haze, blue sky, red sunsets, and so on. The E field of an incident
wave induces oscillating dipoles, and these scatter the incident radiation by emitting
A (6-19)
spherical waves as described in Sec. 5-1. For an elastically bound electron as described
above, the maximum dipole
where Wo is the natural frequency of the oscillator, defined by Wo = (k/m)1/2. moment Po is given by
Combining Eqs. (6-18) and (6-19) yields
e/m e/m
x = 2 Wo - W 2 Eo cos ost = -----w E- w
0
2 2
(6-20)
(6-24)
The displacement x from equilibrium of each electron is proportional to E. ~hen w is
less than the natural frequency wo, the dfsplacement is in phase with the field; when
This may be combined with Eq. (5-4) to find the average rate at which energy is
larger, x and E have opposite signs and are 1800 out of phase.
scattered from an incident wave. The frequency dependence of this rate means that some
l- -'---
Each electron contributes a dipole moment xe, and so the polarization .or density
colors of light are scattered more than others. Which are scattered most?
of dipole moments is P = xeN; thus
Jk=----
P= (6-21)
The electric displacement is
= 1'0E + P = (1'0 + e2N/~ )E w
.. "0
D 0
2
- w2 (6-22) Fig. 6-17 Permittivity and rate of energy absorption as functions of frequency .
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