Quantum theory of radiation

wasi-uz-zaman · Jan 6, 2015

hi , i am not getting how harmonic oscillator is linked to the modes of radiation field- as explain by Dirac in his quantum theory of radiation.

jedishrfu · Jan 6, 2015

I'm not sure what you're asking but I found this reference in Wikipedia about quantum harmonic oscillators

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_harmonic_oscillator

atyy · Jan 6, 2015

For the electromagnetic field, take a look at Eq 2.6 in http://www.thphys.uni-heidelberg.de/~duo/skripten/schmidt_QFT1.pdf.

That equation is analogous to the equation ##[a,a\dagger]=1## for the harmonic oscillator.

bhobba · Jan 6, 2015

wasi-uz-zaman said: ↑

hi , i am not getting how harmonic oscillator is linked to the modes of radiation field- as explain by Dirac in his quantum theory of radiation.

Get a hold of Quantum Field Theory for the Gifted Amateur:
https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Field-Theory-Gifted-Amateur/dp/019969933X

There are a number of different equivalent forms of QM. There is a form based on annihilation and creation operators, which is not that well known, that brings out this connection very clearly. The above reference explains it in detail.

Added Later

Check out:
http://math.bu.edu/people/mak/Styer Am J Phys 2002.pdf

See formulation 7

Thanks
Bill

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Quantum theory of radiation

wasi-uz-zaman

jedishrfu

Staff: Mentor

atyy

bhobba

Staff: Mentor