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Abstract

In this and the following chapter, we will discuss basic phenomena occurring when matter is exposed to light. While here we will be concerned with various actions of matter on light, the opposite effect will be discussed in Chap. 3. Matter can act on electromagnetic radiation in manifold ways. In Fig. 2.1, a typical situation is shown, where a light beam is incident on a slice of matter. In principle, three effects exist which may interfere with its undisturbed propagation:

  • reflection and refraction,

  • absorption,

  • scattering.

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© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Niemz, M.H. (1996). Light and Matter. In: Laser-Tissue Interactions. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03193-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03193-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-03195-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03193-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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