{"title":"The quantum optics of media.","authors":"Stephen M Barnett","doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0339","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The quantum theory of light in real media requires attention to a number of physical features. Even in near-transparent dielectrics, we have to incorporate dispersion, losses and the effects of interfaces. Here, we review the quantization of light in a dielectric and see how this affects radiative processes and light propagation. In the second half of the paper, we turn to optical forces and momentum. There we show why there are two rival force densities in a medium and also why there <i>must be</i> two distinct optical momenta. In the process, this resolves the century-old Abraham-Minkowski dilemma.This article is part of the theme issue 'The quantum theory of light'.</p>","PeriodicalId":19879,"journal":{"name":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences","volume":"382 2287","pages":"20230339"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11667586/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"103","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0339","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/12/24 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The quantum theory of light in real media requires attention to a number of physical features. Even in near-transparent dielectrics, we have to incorporate dispersion, losses and the effects of interfaces. Here, we review the quantization of light in a dielectric and see how this affects radiative processes and light propagation. In the second half of the paper, we turn to optical forces and momentum. There we show why there are two rival force densities in a medium and also why there must be two distinct optical momenta. In the process, this resolves the century-old Abraham-Minkowski dilemma.This article is part of the theme issue 'The quantum theory of light'.
期刊介绍:
Continuing its long history of influential scientific publishing, Philosophical Transactions A publishes high-quality theme issues on topics of current importance and general interest within the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences, guest-edited by leading authorities and comprising new research, reviews and opinions from prominent researchers.