Interaction of polarized light with matter

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to the interaction of light, mainly in the X-ray range, with matter. The subject is introduced by some experimental evidences of X-ray absorption, emission, or scattering processes in different kinds of materials. The ways of describing the electromagnetic wave field are then briefly presented before developing its interaction with an electron in an atom. They are then applied in the context of X-ray spectroscopies. Absorption, dichroism, and resonant diffraction are specifically discussed before giving some key elements to manage monoelectronic simulations.