Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physica Scripta

Propagation of radiation in the state with at most one photon in a dielectric

Vlasta Peřinová, A. Lukš

Published Jul 1, 2009• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We examine the problem of a source atom radiating into a dielectric. The change in propagation velocity occurs also in the case where the electromagnetic field is in the state with at most one photon. The atom is located at the centre of a dielectric sphere of a finite radius. A microscopic approach is adopted. For the medium to be isotropic, four-level dielectric atoms in the configuration of an inverted tripod are assumed. The possibility of a continuum approximation is investigated.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/2009/t135/014042

Related papers

Change in propagation constant and propagation velocity in a dielectric: A microscopic approach

P. R. Berman

The problem of a source atom radiating into a medium of dielectric atoms is considered using a microscopic approach. The source atom is excited by a pulsed, classical driving field, and the average field amplitude and intensity radiated by the source atom is calculated to first order in the dielectric density. It is shown how both the change in propagation vector and change in propagation speed of the radiation in the medium can be traced to scattering events in the medium.

Physical Review A•Oct 9, 2007•2 citations

Modeling of the propagation of single photons in finite one-dimensional photonic crystals

А. С. Малоштан, S. Ya. Kilin

A model of the propagation of a quantized electromagnetic field in a one-dimensional photonic crystal that contains two-level atoms that interact with the field is proposed. The model separately considers the interaction of the quantized radiation with the quantum system and with the photonic crystal. The use of the model is exemplified by its application to the study of the decay of excited states of one- and two-level atoms placed in the photonic crystal. The possibility of the transformation of the front of a single photon by a finite dielectric is demonstrated.

Optics and Spectroscopy•Mar 1, 2010•1 citation

Quantum theory of superluminal pulse propagation

Peter W. Milonni, K. Furuya, R. Y. Chiao

We consider the propagation in a dielectric medium of radiation emitted by a single-atom source. The source and dielectric atoms are assumed to be two-state systems, and the emitted light is incident on an ideal broadband detector. It is shown that the peak probability for producing a ;;click" at the detector can occur sooner than it could if there were no material medium between it and the source atom.

Optics Express•Jan 15, 2001•20 citations

Single-photon pulse propagation in and into a medium of two-level atoms: Microscopic Fresnel equations

P. R. Berman, C. H. Raymond Ooi

The propagation of an off-resonant, single-photon pulse in and into a medium of two-level atoms is considered. When the pulse is launched from within the medium, there are two propagation speeds, neither of which is the normal group velocity. For densities as small as 10${}^{11}$ atoms/cm${}^{3}$ and detunings of order 10${}^{11}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, both propagation speeds approach one half the speed of light in vacuum. Moreover, rather remarkably, there are Rabi oscillations between the field and atomic excitation, even for this single-photon pulse. In contrast, for a pulse sent into the medium, the atom-field system remains adiabatically in a dressed state that propagates with the normal group velocity. In the limit that the index of refraction is approximately equal to unity, we obtain the Fresnel equations for the reflection and transmission coefficients based on this microscopic model. The transmission coefficient differs from the conventional result owing to the fact that we quantize the field in free space.

Physical Review A•Dec 30, 2011•3 citations

Quantum optics of dielectric media

Peter W. Milonni

In this work the electromagnetic field in a dielectric medium is quantized in a simple and straightforward way based on the classical expression for the energy density for the case of weak absorption. The quantized field leads to expressions for spontaneous and stimulated emission rates, and gain and absorption coefficients, for the general case of a dispersive dielectric host medium. Local field corrections, when they apply, arise in the same manner as in classical electromagnetic theory. The theory also leads to a radiative level shift dependent on the dispersion of the dielectric, and this shift may be interpreted as a van der Waals interaction between the guest atom and the atoms of the host medium.>

Nonlinear Optics•Dec 17, 2002•0 citations

Microscopic Theory of Modified Spontaneous Emission in a Dielectric

P. R. Berman, Peter W. Milonni

The modification of the radiative decay rate of a source atom embedded in a uniform, isotropic dielectric is calculated to first order in the density of the dielectric atoms using a microscopic approach. In contrast to the recent results of Crenshaw and Bowden [Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 1851 (2000)]], the decay rate is found to be consistent with macroscopic theories based on quantization of the field in the dielectric.

Physical Review Letters•Feb 6, 2004•53 citations
We examine the problem of a source atom radiating into a dielectric. The change in propagation velocity occurs also in the case where the electromagnetic field is in the state with at most one photon. The atom is located at the centre of a dielectric sphere of a finite radius. A microscopic approach is adopted. For the medium to be isotropic, four-level dielectric atoms in the configuration of an inverted tripod are assumed. The possibility of a continuum approximation is investigated.
A model of the propagation of a quantized electromagnetic field in a one-dimensional photonic crystal that contains two-level atoms that interact with the field is proposed. The model separately considers the interaction of the quantized radiation with the quantum system and with the photonic crystal. The use of the model is exemplified by its application to the study of the decay of excited states of one- and two-level atoms placed in the photonic crystal. The possibility of the transformation of the front of a single photon by a finite dielectric is demonstrated.
The propagation of an off-resonant, single-photon pulse in and into a medium of two-level atoms is considered. When the pulse is launched from within the medium, there are two propagation speeds, neither of which is the normal group velocity. For densities as small as 1011{}^{11}11 atoms/cm3{}^{3}3 and detunings of order 1011{}^{11}11 s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, both propagation speeds approach one half the speed of light in vacuum. Moreover, rather remarkably, there are Rabi oscillations between the field and atomic excitation, even for this single-photon pulse. In contrast, for a pulse sent into the medium, the atom-field system remains adiabatically in a dressed state that propagates with the normal group velocity. In the limit that the index of refraction is approximately equal to unity, we obtain the Fresnel equations for the reflection and transmission coefficients based on this microscopic model. The transmission coefficient differs from the conventional result owing to the fact that we quantize the field in free space.
In this work the electromagnetic field in a dielectric medium is quantized in a simple and straightforward way based on the classical expression for the energy density for the case of weak absorption. The quantized field leads to expressions for spontaneous and stimulated emission rates, and gain and absorption coefficients, for the general case of a dispersive dielectric host medium. Local field corrections, when they apply, arise in the same manner as in classical electromagnetic theory. The theory also leads to a radiative level shift dependent on the dispersion of the dielectric, and this shift may be interpreted as a van der Waals interaction between the guest atom and the atoms of the host medium.>