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Coherent spontaneous emission of light due to surface waves

Jean‐Jacques Greffet, Rémi Carminati, Karl Joulain, Jean‐Philippe Mulet, Carsten Henkel, Mainguy, Stephane, Cheng, Yong

Published Jan 1, 2001• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Surface-phonon polaritons produce peaks in the local density of electromagnetic states close to the interface. We show that this affects dramatically the spontaneous emission of light by thermal sources in the near field. We discuss several effects such as coherence properties in the near field, radiative heat transfer at short distances and the design of coherent thermal sources in the near field and in the far field.

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•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations
Surface-phonon polaritons produce peaks in the local density of electromagnetic states close to the interface. We show that this affects dramatically the spontaneous emission of light by thermal sources in the near field. We discuss several effects such as coherence properties in the near field, radiative heat transfer at short distances and the design of coherent thermal sources in the near field and in the far field.
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Interplay between the effects of coherent radiation and localization of light is analysed. A system of two-level atoms is placed in a medium interacting with electromagnetic field. The matter-light interaction can result in the appearance of a band gap in the spectrum of polariton states. If an atom with a resonance frequency inside the gap is incorporated into such a medium, the atomic spontaneous emission is suppressed, which is termed the localization of light. However, a system of resonance atoms inside the gap can radiate due to their coherent interactions. The peculiarity of the coherent radiation by a system of atoms, under the localization of light for a single atom, is studied.
A system of resonance atoms is placed in a medium with developed polariton effect. In the spectrum of polariton states there can exist a band gap. If an atom with a resonance frequency inside the polariton gap is incorporated into the medium, the atomic spontaneous emission can be strongly suppressed. This is what is called the localization of light. Nevertheless, an ensemble of resonance atoms inside the polariton gap can radiate if their coherent interaction is sufficiently strong. Conditions when coherent polariton radiation can appear and the properties of this coherent polariton emission are studied.
A quantum-electrodynamic theory of spontaneous emission in presence of dielectrics and conductors is developed. The theory makes use of the master-equation techniques and the response-function formalism of part I of this series of papers. Various observable entities such as damping coefficients (lifetimes), Lamb shifts, and frequency shifts are related to the appropriate surface-dependent response functions. The results are valid for arbitrary geometries (involving linear dielectrics) and naturally contain, as a special case, the usual results of spontaneous emission in free space. As explicit examples we consider a two-level atom (also the multilevel atom) in presence of a plane dielectric interface and between two conducting plates. Formulas for the shifts and widths are given and their asymptotic behavior for large and short distances is discussed. The behavior when the atom is embedded inside the dielectric is different than when the atom is outside the dielectric. The origin of coherence in the present model is discussed and the coherence effects in this model are contrasted with those in Dicke's model. The results are also compared with those obtained by the image method. Exact expressions for the operator radiation-reaction fields are obtained in terms of the atomic polarization operators and response functions. Approximate results for such fields are also given. The far-zone behavior of the radiation fields is obtained in terms of response functions and the polarization operators. Some of the normally ordered correlation functions are also calculated. The connection of some of the theoretical results with a recent experimental work of Carniglia, Mandel, and Drexhage is discussed. The effect of anisotropy of the dielectric function on the lifetimes as well as on the far-field correlation functions is also considered. Finally the contribution to the shifts and widths due to the excitation of surface polariton modes is computed and the results are compared with those obtained by the quantization of surface polariton field. It is found that such surface modes contribute significantly to widths.
Surface plasmon polaritons are charge density waves of electrons in a metal, which are coupled to an electromagnetic field at a metal-dielectric interface. The electro- magnetic field associated with surface plasmons is confined, resulting in increased field intensities near the interface. Optical emitters placed near a metal film interact strongly with the surface plasmon modes present, not only modifying the radiation rates, but also the radiation profile. These emitters may be used to store and process information, and understanding their behaviour in the presence of a lossy metal film is important in determining the advantages and limitations of using surface plasmons. In this thesis, we wish to understand how we can optically control atoms by exploring two physical phenomena: first, the influence of surface plasmons on collective effects in an ensemble of emitters. Secondly, the single photon excitation of an emitter near a metal film. In the first case, we analyze the collective radiative behaviour of multiple classical emitters near a metal film that radiatively couple to the far-field through surface plasmon modes. We demonstrate that the contributions of dipolar image charges within the metal film significantly affect the cooperative emission of nearby sources, generating sub- and super-radiant emission that can be controlled with a suitably detuned external driving field. In the second case, we determine the excitation probability of an atom near a metal film by a single photon pulse that is time reversed. Using a quantum electro- dynamic description of absorbing dielectrics, we show that non-radiative decay will limit the excitation probability to about half of the maximum that could be achieved in the absence of losses.