Publication Date

1-2022

Description

We calculate spatial localization and phase properties of spontaneously emitted photons. Our model is simple yet fully quantized: the emitting atom is a two-level atom located in a one-dimensional multimode optical cavity. Although the photon state vector does not have a position-space representation, the expectation value of the square of the electric field operator (intensity) is spatially localized and this pattern shifts at the speed of light. The emitted photon exhibits classical-like phase properties in the intensity expectation value when it ‘‘interferes with itself’’ after reflection. The phase properties of the emitted radiation are also evident at times sufficiently long for the radiation to have returned to the emitting atom before the decay of excited atomic state is complete.

Journal

American Journal of Physics

Volume

70

Issue

1

First Page

58

Last Page

66

Department

Physics & Astronomy

Publisher Statement

Copyright 2002, American Association of Physics Teachers. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Association of Physics Teachers.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417531

Download

Share

COinS