Related papers: The Maxwell wave function of the photon
By restating geometrical optics within the field-theoretical approach, the classical concept of a photon (and, more generally, any elementary excitation) in arbitrary dispersive medium is introduced, and photon properties are calculated…
We consider an approach in which the usual wave function in the quadrature representation of mode j of the electromagnetic field is further quantized to produce a field operator. Since the electromagnetic field is already second quantized,…
We show single photon and electron interferences can be calculated without quantum-superposition states by using tensor form (covariant quantization). From the analysis results, the scalar potential which correspond to an indefinite metric…
In 1907, Einstein suggested an experiment with flying atoms for corroborating time dilation. In that paper, the flying atom was conceived as a flying clock: the reference to the Doppler effect was only indirect (the experiments by Stark to…
Quantum mechanics of photons is derived from the theory of representations of the Poincar\'e group developed by Wigner. This theory places helicity as the most fundamental property; angular momentum and polarization are secondary…
A novel quantum imaging technique has recently been demonstrated in an experiment, where the photon used for illuminating an object is not detected; the image is obtained by interfering two beams, none of which ever interacts with the…
In this paper, we give the quantum wave equations of single photon when it is in the free or medium space. With these equations, we can study light interference and diffraction with quantum approach. Otherwise, they can be applied in…
This is a brief history of photons, both soft and hard, real and virtual. About 150-100 years ago, Maxwell and Einstein discovered intriguing properties of electromagnetic fields and how to understand them both macroscopically and…
In quantum optics it is usual to describe the basic energy quanta of the electromagnetic (EM) field, photons, in terms of monochromatic waves which have a definite energy and momentum, and satisfy bosonic commutation relations. Taking this…
Vacuum fluctuations of quantum fields are altered in presence of a strong gravitational background, with important physical consequences. We argue that a non-trivial spacetime geometry can act as an optically active medium for quantum…
The existence of twisted light may be inferred from modern quantum concepts and experimental data. These waves possess energy, impulse and angular momentum. However, the Maxwell's four-dimensional theory of electromagnetism does not imply…
Let us abandon for a moment the strict epistemological standpoint of quantum field theory, that eventually comes to declare nonsensical any question about the photon posed outside the quantum theoretical framework. We can then avail of the…
At the primary level of reality as described by quantum field theory, a fundamental particle like an electron represents a stable, discrete, propagating excited state of its underlying quantum field. QFT also tells us that the lowest vacuum…
A century after its conception, quantum mechanics still hold surprises that contradict many "common sense" notions. The contradiction is especially sharp in case one consider trajectories of truly quantum objects such as single photons.…
A theory of light transmission through a quantum well (QW) in a magnetic field perpendicular to the QW plane is developed. The light wave length is supposed comparable with the QW width. The formulas for reflection, absorption and…
The quantum field of a single particle is expressed as the sum of the particle's ordinary wave function and the vacuum fluctuations. An exact quantum-field calculation shows that the squared amplitude of this field sums, at any time, to a…
The erroneous prediction of the speed of light in dispersive media has been looked upon historically as unequivocal proof that Newton's corpuscular theory is incorrect. Examination of his arguments shows that they were only directly…
This paper is a review of the canonical proper-time approach to relativistic mechanics and classical electrodynamics. The purpose is to provide a physically complete classical background for a new approach to relativistic quantum theory.…
We uncover the existence of a universal phenomenon concerning the electromagnetic optical force exerted by light or other electromagnetic waves on a distribution of charges and currents in general, and of particles in particular. This…
At a fundamental level the notion of particle (quantum) comes from quantum field theory. From this point of view we estimate corrections to the free particle wave function due to minimum-length deformed quantum mechanics to the first order…