2017/04/30 by Nicholas Furtak-Wells, Lewis A. Clark, Robert H. Purdy +2
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Absorption (acoustics) #Computer science #Electromagnetic field #Electromagnetic radiation #Field (mathematics) #Free space #Mathematics #Optics #Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics #Photon #Physics #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #Quantum mechanics #Random lasers and scattering media #Reflection (computer programming) #Scattering #Telecommunications #Transmission (telecommunications) #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.97.043827
published as Phys. Rev. A 97, 043827 (2018) · 16 pages, 6 figures, improved version
arxiv created 2018/03/28 · openalex created_date 2018/04/13 · openalex publication_date 2018/04/13 · arxiv updated 2018/04/18 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
This paper models light scattering through flat surfaces with finite transmission, reflection, and absorption rates, with wave packets approaching the mirror from both sides. While using the same notion of photons as in free space, our model also accounts for the presence of mirror images and the possible exchange of energy between the electromagnetic field and the mirror surface. To test our model, we derive the spontaneous decay rate and the level shift of an atom in front of a semitransparent mirror as a function of its transmission and reflection rates. When considering limiting cases and using standard approximations, our approach reproduces well-known results but it also paves the way for the modeling of more complex scenarios.