The harmonic oscillator problem and the parabolic index optical waveguide: II. Quantum mechanical and wave optical analyses

Abstract

For pt.I see ibid., vol.10, p.136-43 (1989). In the preceding paper the authors used the Lagrangian formalism to show the close relationship between the classical mechanics of the harmonic oscillator and the ray optics of the parabolic index optical waveguide. The authors have now studied the corresponding quantum mechanical and wave optical problems and, in particular, have studied the time evolution of a coherent state and have shown its close relationship to the propagation of a Gaussian beam in a parabolic index optical waveguide. The corresponding transitions to classical mechanics and ray optics have been shown. The authors have also presented an analysis of the recently developed squeezed states and have shown its correspondence to the waveguide problem. They have demonstrated that the relationship between classical and quantum mechanics is the same as between ray optics and wave optics. All such analyses should be of considerable pedagogical value.