THE SCATTERING AND ABSORPTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION BY MATTER
Abstract
The scattering and absorption of electromagnetic radiation by matter is treated starting from first principles. The electromagnetic field is included in the problem from the beginning and the nature of this field as radiated by different sources is discussed and analyzed. In particular, it is pointed out that the field can exist in quantum states, some of which have classical analogues and some of which do not. A formalism is developed which includes the concept of temperature. The need for treating matter as one system and not as an ensemble of separate systems is pointed out. A slight extension of the present theory of measurement is shown to be necessary and is made. Two simple examples are calculated using the formalism developed. Such phenomena as the line widths in gas masers, the relaxation times in maser and laser materials, noise in solid state amplifiers and a host of other related problems can be handled by this physically rigorous and unified procedure. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0283517
Entities
People
- Douglas Jr. Warner
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University