All Questions
22
questions
1
vote
1
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55
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Ambiguities in optical waveguide modes
While studying concept of slab waveguide mode, I got stuck on some problems.
In textbook(Yariv chapter 3 pg 112), for guided TE modes it tells that the mode function
is taken as
which means that the ...
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
The expression of photocurrent
Consider an electro-magnetic field represented in phasor notation $E_0e^{-jwt}$ incident upon a photodetector/photodiode, what is the expression of the generated photo-current $I(t)$? Here $E_0e^{-jwt}...
-1
votes
1
answer
66
views
The enigma of photon behavior, photon spatial co-inhabitance
The notion that multiple photons can occupy the same spatial coordinates seems perplexing. How is this experimentally validated, considering the intricate challenges and oddities it presents?
Imagine ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
1k
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Photon statistics for thermal light?
I know that the variance $\Delta^2$ of the number of photons $n$ for thermal light is:
$\Delta^2 n = \bar{n} + \bar{n}^2 \hspace{2 cm} (1) $
where $\bar{n}$ is the average number of photons.
This ...
- 444
0
votes
1
answer
50
views
What does the wave created during refraction look like?
People always describe refraction as light stimulating the electrons in the glass, which create their own light, which interferes with the original wave. They always say “the math is too complex, but ...
- 103
1
vote
3
answers
440
views
Is the electric field the same as probability amplitude of a photon?
I am a novice in Quantum Mechanics and have seen many authors interchangeably using the two terms in the introductory textbooks. But I have never seen it written explicitly anywhere 'The probability ...
- 335
0
votes
3
answers
544
views
Cavity decay rate dependence on frequency
Photons inside an imperfect cavity will decay outside with a rate proportional to the peak width $\delta \omega$. A spectrum of such a cavity (with different quality factors) is shown below
My ...
3
votes
4
answers
365
views
Experimental suggestions for size and shape of single optical photon (wavepacket)?
Optical photon is an electromagnetic wave produced e.g. during deexcitation of an atom, carrying energy, momentum and angular momentum difference.
So how is this electromagnetic energy distributed in ...
- 960
0
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1
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48
views
All photons incident upon an object are ultimately scattered somewhere, right? Either elastically or inelastically?
From Wikipedia:
Light has a certain probability of being scattered by a material. When photons are scattered, most of them are elastically scattered (Rayleigh scattering), such that the scattered ...
- 4,509
3
votes
1
answer
742
views
Why is photocathode damaged by excessive photocurrent due to exposure to intense light?
Many books including the book (Hamamatsu, "Photomultiplier Tubes", link to PDF) says that a photocathode of a photomultiplier tube is damaged by intense light.
Do not expose to strong light....
- 175
3
votes
3
answers
554
views
What happens to the momenta of photons when light enters a medium
Light refracts as it enters a medium as the velocity decreases because the permittivity and permeability changes. So is there a change of momentum of a photon entering a refractive medium? And if ...
- 434
2
votes
1
answer
34
views
Will photons be recharged in energy if stimulated by an electromagnetic wave?
Will placing an active electromagnetic coil around a fibre optic cable recharge photons being emitted by it, therefore increasing their distance and energy as they pass through it's field, or is there ...
- 21
0
votes
3
answers
961
views
Do polarizers also shift the phase of light?
When does passing through a polarizer change phase besides just changing polarization?
Consider three cases:
A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) is a clear case. Horizontally polarized light leaves ...
- 362
2
votes
1
answer
631
views
Can a spatially coherent light source be monochromatic but not temporally coherent?
Someone told me monochromatic light can be temporally incoherent. If you combine a bunch of out of phase, monochromatic waves, don't you just end up with one wave that's the average of each of them? ...
- 45
1
vote
2
answers
103
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Boundary conditions to be used in simulating plasmonics
I am very new to this field and trying to understand the boundary conditions usage when simulating plasmonic structures. I use CST studio suite for EM simulations.I am not understanding exactly what ...
- 39