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

Physical Review Letters

Local Field Effects and Electric and Magnetic Dipole Transitions in Dielectrics

Geert L. J. A. Rikken, Y.A.R.R. Kessener

Published Feb 6, 1995• 134 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report measurements of the refractive index dependence of the spontaneous emission rate of electric and magnetic dipole transitions in dielectrics. Local field effects are clearly observed in the electric dipole results and discrimination between different theoretical descriptions is made. The magnetic dipole results are well described by quantum electrodynamical considerations without local field effects.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.74.880

Related papers

The Local-Field Effect on the Optical Transition: an Experimental Probe Using Eu3+ Diluted in Glass Systems

Sha Jiang, Jian Yuan, Shaoshuai Zhou +5 more

In order to discriminate between the two macroscopic models for the dependence of the spontaneous emission rates of emitters on the refractive indices of the surrounding optical dielectric media, i.e., the local-field effect, Eu3+ activated glass samples with a range of different refractive indices were prepared for the measurements of photoluminescence emission spectrum, luminescent decay rate and refractive index. Detail analyses indicate that the local-field effect on the spontaneous emission rates follows the virtual-cavity model derived by assuming the doped luminescent ions do not disturb the optical dielectric media.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan•Aug 7, 2014•1 citation

Local-field effect on the spontaneous radiative emission rate

Chang‐Kui Duan, Hongli Wen, Peter A. Tanner

The effect of the dielectric medium upon the spontaneous emission rate was investigated using lead borate glass of various compositions lightly doped with the Eu${}^{3+}$ lanthanide ion. A dual approach used the variation of (i) electric dipole/magnetic dipole (ED/MD) emission rates from spectral integrations and (ii) absolute ED emission rates from lifetime measurements for comparison with the variation of the refractive index of the glass medium. Contrary to a previous study [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 203903 (2003)], the results show the relevance of the virtual-cavity model in this case. The MD emission rates were taken to follow the ${n}^{3}$ increase in density of photon states in the medium. The justifications for employing Eu${}^{3+}$ for identifying the appropriate model are given.

Physical Review B•Jun 24, 2011•23 citations

Gain effects on microsphere resonant emission structures

Vitaly V. Datsyuk

The effects of light absorption and amplification on the transition rates of the electric-dipole emission of atoms or molecules embedded in micrometer-sized dielectric spheres are investigated in the framework of classical electrodynamics. The expression for the form factor of a resonant emission line is derived. Its dependence on the imaginary part of the light’s refractive index is investigated. It is discovered that the active sphere does not act as an optical resonator if light amplification is strong.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jan 1, 2002•10 citations

Spontaneous emission in absorbing dielectric media

Stephen Mark Barnett, B. Hüttner, R. Loudon

We have calculated the effect of material absorption on the rate of spontaneous emission by an embedded atom using a macroscopic Green-function approach and a microscopic Hamiltonian method that includes reservoir damping. When local field effects are neglected, the free-space emission rate is modified by the real part of the refractive index at the transition frequency of the embedded atom. Local field effects are introduced via a local field correction factor. This modification of the spontaneous emission rate generalizes a well-known result for transparent media and is of crucial importance in assessing the degree of inhibition of spontaneous emission for frequencies close to the resonances of the dielectric.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 22, 1992•216 citations

Effects of Local Fields on Spontaneous Emission in Dielectric Media

Michael E. Crenshaw, Charles M. Bowden

The local-field renormalization of the spontaneous emission rate in a dielectric is explicitly obtained from a fully microscopic quantum-electrodynamical, many-body derivation of Langevin-Bloch operator equations for two-level atoms embedded in an absorptive and dispersive, linear dielectric host. We find that the dielectric local-field enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate is smaller than indicated by previous studies.

arXiv:quant-ph/0004101•Physical Review Letters•Aug 28, 2000•80 citations

Spontaneous emission from a dielectric slab

Hendrik Paul Urbach, Geert L. J. A. Rikken

The electromagnetic field in a dielectric slab bounded by two dielectric half spaces with arbitrary refractive indices is quantized by computing the complete set of orthonormal electromagnetic modes. The zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field are determined as a function of position. The dependence of the rate of spontaneous emission of thin dielectric films on the thicknesses of the films and the refractive index of the substrate is studied and compared with experimental results.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1998•100 citations
We report measurements of the refractive index dependence of the spontaneous emission rate of electric and magnetic dipole transitions in dielectrics. Local field effects are clearly observed in the electric dipole results and discrimination between different theoretical descriptions is made. The magnetic dipole results are well described by quantum electrodynamical considerations without local field effects.
In order to discriminate between the two macroscopic models for the dependence of the spontaneous emission rates of emitters on the refractive indices of the surrounding optical dielectric media, i.e., the local-field effect, Eu3+ activated glass samples with a range of different refractive indices were prepared for the measurements of photoluminescence emission spectrum, luminescent decay rate and refractive index. Detail analyses indicate that the local-field effect on the spontaneous emission rates follows the virtual-cavity model derived by assuming the doped luminescent ions do not disturb the optical dielectric media.
The effect of the dielectric medium upon the spontaneous emission rate was investigated using lead borate glass of various compositions lightly doped with the Eu3+{}^{3+}3+ lanthanide ion. A dual approach used the variation of (i) electric dipole/magnetic dipole (ED/MD) emission rates from spectral integrations and (ii) absolute ED emission rates from lifetime measurements for comparison with the variation of the refractive index of the glass medium. Contrary to a previous study [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 203903 (2003)], the results show the relevance of the virtual-cavity model in this case. The MD emission rates were taken to follow the n3{n}^{3}n3 increase in density of photon states in the medium. The justifications for employing Eu3+{}^{3+}3+ for identifying the appropriate model are given.
The effects of light absorption and amplification on the transition rates of the electric-dipole emission of atoms or molecules embedded in micrometer-sized dielectric spheres are investigated in the framework of classical electrodynamics. The expression for the form factor of a resonant emission line is derived. Its dependence on the imaginary part of the light’s refractive index is investigated. It is discovered that the active sphere does not act as an optical resonator if light amplification is strong.
We have calculated the effect of material absorption on the rate of spontaneous emission by an embedded atom using a macroscopic Green-function approach and a microscopic Hamiltonian method that includes reservoir damping. When local field effects are neglected, the free-space emission rate is modified by the real part of the refractive index at the transition frequency of the embedded atom. Local field effects are introduced via a local field correction factor. This modification of the spontaneous emission rate generalizes a well-known result for transparent media and is of crucial importance in assessing the degree of inhibition of spontaneous emission for frequencies close to the resonances of the dielectric.