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Journal of the Optical Society of America

Biaxial Crystal Optics*

Jin Au Kong

Published Jan 1, 1971• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Biaxial crystal optics is studied both classically and quantum mechanically. A light can, in general, be decomposed into two linearly polarized waves. By proper choice of one of the three eulerian angles, two characteristic waves in the crystal are determined. Quantization is facilitated by postulating commutation relations between D and B fields and Heisenberg equations of the motion or, equivalently, Maxwell’s equations. Two types of photons corresponding to the two characteristic waves are found and their energy states are calculated.

DOI
10.1364/josa.61.000049

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Biaxial crystal optics is studied both classically and quantum mechanically. A light can, in general, be decomposed into two linearly polarized waves. By proper choice of one of the three eulerian angles, two characteristic waves in the crystal are determined. Quantization is facilitated by postulating commutation relations between D and B fields and Heisenberg equations of the motion or, equivalently, Maxwell’s equations. Two types of photons corresponding to the two characteristic waves are found and their energy states are calculated.
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