Analog of the Wigner-Moyal equation for the electromagnetic field
José Tito Mendonça, N. L. Tsintsadze
The evolution equation for the Wigner distribution of the classical electromagnetic field is derived for a nonstationary and inhomogeneous optical medium, which is formally similar to the Wigner-Moyal equation for a quantum system. The geometric optics approximation is discussed in detail, and the conservation equation for the number of photons is justified. The influence of dispersion is also considered.
Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics•Sep 1, 2000•30 citations