Electrodynamic excitation of electrons

Abstract

In light–matter interaction, the energy of electrons is dependent on the frequency of radiation rather than its intensity. It is explained by assuming that light comprises of quantised packets of energy or photons whose energy is a product of its frequency and Planck’s constant. Here we explore the role of electromagnetic field coupling in the phenomenological origin of electrodynamic excitation of electrons. We show that electromagnetic radiation imparts an electric potential energy to an electron which is proportional to the product of the angular frequency of radiation field, magnetic flux and the magnitude of electron charge. While assuming magnetic flux quantisation and phasor representation of electromagnetic fields, the mathematical expression of the energy of a photon, as well as Planck’s constant, have been derived using the principles of classical electromagnetism. It implies that the particle like behaviour of electromagnetic radiation under interaction with matter emerges as a consequence of magnetic flux quantisation and discrete energy transfer to charges.