Paraxial Quantum Mechanics

Τ. Padmanabhan

Román Castañeda

Liping Zou, Pengming Zhang, Alexander J Silenko

Abstract A connection between relativistic quantum mechanics in the Foldy–Wouthuysen representation and the paraxial equations is established for a Dirac particle in external fields. The paraxial form of the Landau eigenfunction for a relativistic electron in a uniform magnetic field is determined. The obtained wave function contains the Gouy phase and significantly approaches the paraxial wave function for a free electron.

Jung Ho Kim

Ying Jing

Roberto Ortega-Martı́nez, Carlos Moreno, Ana Leonor Rivera

The paraxial regime of scalar wave optics has the same structure as non-relativistic quantum mechanics, with wavelength taking the place of the Planck constant. The Wigner function is a central tool to explore the phase space of a system; in optics, moreover, it can be produced by purely optical means. In this first part, we present a matrix-based formalism for the study of paraxial optical systems, and apply it to the description of a setup that, as will be seen in the second part, produces the Wigner function.