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The Role of Semiclassical Description in the Quantum-like Theory of Light Rays

Fedele R., Man'ko Vi

Published Jan 14, 1999• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An alternative procedure to the one by Gloge and Marcuse [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59, 1629 (1969)] for performing the transition from geometrical optics to wave optics in the paraxial approximation is presented. This is done by employing a recent "deformation" method used to give a quantumlike phase-space description of charged-particle-beam transport in the semiclassical approximation. By taking into account the uncertainty relation (diffraction limit) that holds between the transverse-beam-spot size and the rms of the light-ray slopes, the classical phase-space equation for light rays is deformed into a von Neumann-like equation that governs the phase-space description of the beam transport in the semiclassical approximation. Here, Planck's constant and the time are replaced by the inverse of the wave number, not lambda, and the propagation coordinate, respectively. In this framework, the corresponding Wigner-like picture is given and the quantumlike corrections for an arbitrary refractive index are considered. In particular, it is shown that the paraxial-radiation-beam transport can also be described in terms of a fluid motion equation, where the pressure term is replaced by a quantumlike potential in the semiclassical approximation that accounts for the diffraction of the beam. Finally, a comparison of this fluid model with Madelung's fluid model is made, and the classical-like picture given by the tomographic approach to radiation beams is advanced as a future perspective.

DOI
10.15161/oar.it/hgrtd-baz13

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An alternative procedure to the one by Gloge and Marcuse [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59, 1629 (1969)] for performing the transition from geometrical optics to wave optics in the paraxial approximation is presented. This is done by employing a recent "deformation" method used to give a quantumlike phase-space description of charged-particle-beam transport in the semiclassical approximation. By taking into account the uncertainty relation (diffraction limit) that holds between the transverse-beam-spot size and the rms of the light-ray slopes, the classical phase-space equation for light rays is deformed into a von Neumann-like equation that governs the phase-space description of the beam transport in the semiclassical approximation. Here, Planck's constant and the time are replaced by the inverse of the wave number, not lambda, and the propagation coordinate, respectively. In this framework, the corresponding Wigner-like picture is given and the quantumlike corrections for an arbitrary refractive index are considered. In particular, it is shown that the paraxial-radiation-beam transport can also be described in terms of a fluid motion equation, where the pressure term is replaced by a quantumlike potential in the semiclassical approximation that accounts for the diffraction of the beam. Finally, a comparison of this fluid model with Madelung's fluid model is made, and the classical-like picture given by the tomographic approach to radiation beams is advanced as a future perspective.
An alternative procedure to the one by Gloge and Marcuse [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59, 1629 (1969)] for performing the transition from geometrical optics to wave optics in the paraxial approximation is presented. This is done by employing a recent "deformation" method used to give a quantumlike phase-space description of charged-particle-beam transport in the semiclassical approximation. By taking into account the uncertainty relation (diffraction limit) that holds between the transverse-beam-spot size and the rms of the light-ray slopes, the classical phase-space equation for light rays is deformed into a von Neumann-like equation that governs the phase-space description of the beam transport in the semiclassical approximation. Here, Planck's constant and the time are replaced by the inverse of the wave number, not lambda, and the propagation coordinate, respectively. In this framework, the corresponding Wigner-like picture is given and the quantumlike corrections for an arbitrary refractive index are considered. In particular, it is shown that the paraxial-radiation-beam transport can also be described in terms of a fluid motion equation, where the pressure term is replaced by a quantumlike potential in the semiclassical approximation that accounts for the diffraction of the beam. Finally, a comparison of this fluid model with Madelung's fluid model is made, and the classical-like picture given by the tomographic approach to radiation beams is advanced as a future perspective.
It is shown that the standard classical picture of charged-particle beam transport in paraxial approximation may be conveniently replaced by a Wigner-like picture in a semiclassical approximation. In this effective description, the classical phase-space equation for electronic rays is replaced by a von Neumann--like equation, where the transverse emittance plays the role of $\ensuremath{\Elzxh}$. Relevant remarks concerning the quantumlike corrections for an arbitrary potential in comparison with the standard classical description of the beam transport are given.
The premise of this submission is to identify the role of the Wigner function [1] in paraxial wave optics, where it can be naturally introduced on the basis of the analogy between the paraxial wave equation and the Schrodinger equation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. Also known as the Wolf function, it describes the cross section of a paraxial beam using a real-valued function of displacement from axis and transverse components of the wave vector. This can be perceived as a quasi-probability distribution over the system's phase space, following the dynamics of a state space density of an ensemble of free noninteracting particles. In a (2+1)–dimensional picture this corresponds to the propagation of straight linear rays where the Wolf function describes the local phase space intensity. There is no notion of relative phase but negative values can be present, providing an alternative basis for description of interference phenomena. This corresponds exactly to the concept of pencils of positive and negative rays, developed by E. C. G. Sudarshan in the late 70’s and 80’s [2, 3].
It is shown that the relation between ray optics and wave optics is analogous to the relation between the classical mechanics of a point particle and quantum mechanics. The time coordinate of quantum mechanics has to be replaced with a length coordinate and the light wavelength λ takes the place of Planck’s constant h. A well-known result of quantum mechanics is that it coincides with classical mechanics in the limit h → 0. Correspondingly, wave and ray optics must coincide in the limit λ → 0.
Paraxial light and atom optics are compared. To lowest order the slowly varying amplitude of a light field in a dielectric medium with a spatially dependent refractive index satisfies an equation which has the form of a Schr\"odinger equation: the ``optical Schr\"odinger equation.'' The unsystematic procedure of neglecting certain second-order derivatives is replaced by a systematic expansion which allows the calculation of consecutive corrections. The general theory is applied to harmonic motion in a graded index fiber and to tunneling between coupled fibers. The physical relations between wave evolution of massive particles and paraxially propagating waves are elucidated.