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Exploring Divisibility and Summability of 'Photon' Wave Packets in Nonlinear Optical PhenomenaFormulations for second and higher harmonic frequency up and 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 light-matter interaction processes and understand the common origin of "graininess" and "discreteness" of light energy.
Document ID
20090037673
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Prasad, Narasimha (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Roychoudhuri, Chandrasekhar (Connecticut Univ. Storrs, CT, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
August 2, 2009
Subject Category
Optics
Report/Patent Number
LF99-9180
7421-8
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Optics and Photonics
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 2, 2009
End Date: August 6, 2009
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 736466.09.02.07.02.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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