NON-LINEAR INTERACTIONS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS WITH MATTER,
Abstract
This study is an introduction to non-linear interactions of the electromagnetic field with an isotropic, homogeneous medium. A quantum mechanical theory of two-photon propagation is presented, and an integral equation for the twophoton Greens function is derived. The classical non-linear macroscopic Maxwell equations, which take into account double-photon effects, are derived and the phenomenological parameters which appear in these equations are related to their corresponding quantum mechanical parameters. In particular, the non-linear polarizability and conductivity of an atomic system are derived. Numerical estimates of the non-linear terms are given and application of this theory to the absorption of laser light in an atomic medium is discussed. In particular, it is argued that in the case of a double resonance, the non-linear absorption rate can be larger than the linear absorption rate. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0439435
Entities
People
- H. T. Yura
Organizations
- RAND Corporation