Interference Phenomena in Atomic Emission Near an Interface: Pure Classical Effects in Quantum Radiation
Abstract
The emission of fluorescence by an atom which is close to the surface of an optically-reflecting medium is examined. All linear media, like a dielectric, a metal, a thin film on a substrate, etc., are dealt with in a unified way. It appears that only the classical Fresnel coefficients for reflection of a plane wave enter the expression for the radiation field. The reflection by nonlinear media is also considered, and in particular optical phase conjugators which operate via degenerate four-wave mixing. The two strong laser beams which pump the nonlinear crystal are assumed to be in resonance with an atomic transition frequency. It is shown that the angular intensity distribution and the polarization of the fluorescence are determined by classical interference of waves, although the radiation is pure quantum mechanical. It is also shown that an atom in its ground state can fluoresce when it is near a phase conjugator, and that this phenomenon follows from the classical properties of this quantum radiation field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA206700
Entities
People
- Henk F. Arnoldus
- Thomas F. George
Organizations
- University at Buffalo