Yes, the wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) light can change when it passes through certain materials like quartz. This phenomenon is known as the wavelength-dependent phenomenon of refraction.
Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another, and its speed and direction change due to the change in the optical properties of the materials. The refractive index of a material determines how much the light is bent or refracted as it passes through the material.
Different materials have different refractive indices, and this index can vary depending on the wavelength of light. This phenomenon is called dispersion, where different wavelengths of light experience different degrees of refraction.
When UV light passes through quartz, which is a type of transparent crystal, it experiences refraction and dispersion. Quartz has a relatively high refractive index, meaning it slows down the speed of light passing through it compared to its speed in a vacuum. The refractive index of quartz also varies with the wavelength of light.
As a result, when UV light enters quartz, its wavelength can change. Different wavelengths of UV light will experience different amounts of bending or refraction, leading to a change in their direction and wavelength as they travel through the quartz.
This change in wavelength can be observed in experiments where UV light passes through a quartz prism, for example. The prism can separate the UV light into its constituent wavelengths, creating a UV spectrum due to the dispersion effect.
So, the wavelength of UV light can indeed change when it passes through quartz or other materials with wavelength-dependent refractive indices, leading to effects such as refraction and dispersion.