Exploring divisibility and summability of 'photon' wave packets in nonlinear optical phenomena

Narasimha Prasad; Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri

doi:10.1117/12.828557

10 September 2009 Exploring divisibility and summability of 'photon' wave packets in nonlinear optical phenomena

Narasimha Prasad, Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri

Proceedings Volume 7421, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? III; 74210A (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.828557
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Formulations for second and higher harmonic frequency up & down conversions, as well as multi photon processes directly assume summability and divisibility of photons. Quantum mechanical (QM) interpretations are completely congruent with these assumptions. However, for linear optical phenomena (interference, diffraction, refraction, material dispersion, spectral dispersion, etc.), we have a profound dichotomy. Most optical engineers innovate and analyze all optical instruments by propagating pure classical electromagnetic (EM) fields using Maxwell's equations and gives only 'lip-service' to the concept "indivisible light quanta". Further, irrespective of linearity or nonlinearity of the phenomena, the final results are always registered through some photo-electric or photo-chemical effects. This is mathematically well modeled by a quadratic action (energy absorption) relation. Since QM does not preclude divisibility or summability of photons in nonlinear & multi-photon effects, it cannot have any foundational reason against these same possibilities in linear optical phenomena. It implies that we must carefully revisit the fundamental roots behind all lightmatter interaction processes and understand the common origin of "graininess" and "discreteness' of light energy.

Citation Download Citation

Narasimha Prasad and Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri "Exploring divisibility and summability of 'photon' wave packets in nonlinear optical phenomena", Proc. SPIE 7421, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? III, 74210A (10 September 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.828557

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