31.05.

07
Quantum Optics. Multimode Field Quantization
Dr. B.I.Lembrikov
I. Electromagnetic Radiation in the Coulomb Gauge
We start with the Maxwell equations in the free space without external electric
current density j and charge density j:
j = 0; j = 0 (1)
They have the form
cnr|E =
0B
0t
(2)
cnr|H =
0D
0t
(3)
diB = 0 (4)
diD = 0 (5)
where the electric induction D, the magnetic induction B, and the electric eld
E, the magnetic eld H are related by
D = -
0
E; B = j
0
H (6)
Taking into account equation (4) we introduce now the vector potential A as
follows
B = cnr|A (7)
since
dicnr|A = 0
Substitute (6) and (7) into (2) and (3). We obtain
cnr|E =
0
0t
(cnr|A) (8)
and
cnr|cnr|A = j
0
-
0
0E
0t
(9)
1
From (8) we get
cnr|
_
E+
0A
0t
_
= 0 (10)
which gives
E+
0A
0t
= qrad (11)
where is a scalar potential, and we used the identity
cnr| (qrad) = 0 (12)
Then
E =
0A
0t
qrad (13)
Substitute (13) into (9). Using the identity
cnr|cnr|A = qraddiA\
2
A (14)
we obtain
qraddiA\
2
A = j
0
-
0
0
0t
_

0A
0t
qrad
_
(15)
and
\
2
A+
1
c
2
0
2
A
0t
2
+ qrad
_
diA+
1
c
2
0
0t
_
= 0 (16)
where
j
0
-
0
=
1
c
2
(17)
Any vector function A is dened by cnr|A and diA. We now use the so-called
Coulomb gauge, or the transverse gauge in order to dene the vector potential
A.
diA = 0; = 0 (18)
The advantage of the Coulomb gauge is that the radiation eld is completely
described by the vector potential A:
E =
0A
0t
; B = cnr|A H =
1
j
0
cnr|A (19)
The free space can be modeled as a cubic cavity of side 1 with perfectly reecting
walls, where 1 is very large compared with dimensions of atoms. After all
calculations the cavity dimension is excluded from the results by taking the
limit 1 . The periodic boundary conditions on the faces of the cavity
give:
expi/
x
r = exp[i/
x
(r + 1)] /
x
=
2
1
|; | = 0, 1; 2; ... (20)
Similarly,
/
y
=
2
1
:; : = 0, 1; 2; ...; /
z
=
2
1
:; : = 0, 1; 2; ... (21)
2
where k = (/
x
, /
y
, /
z
) is the wave vector. In the Coulomb gauge eq. (16) reduces
to the wave equation
\
2
A+
1
c
2
0
2
A
0t
2
= 0 (22)
and
\
2
A =
_
0
2
0r
2
+
0
2
0j
2
+
0
2
0.
2
_
A (23)
We expand the solution in the Fourier series with respect to the plane waves.
A =

k;s
e
k;s
_

k;s
(t) exp(ikr) +

k;s
(t) exp(ikr)

(24)
where e
k;s
is the polarization vector. For the transverse wave dened by (18)
there are two independent orthogonal polarizations : such that
(e
k;s
e
k;s0
) = c
ss0
=
_
1 : = :/
0 : ,= :/
(25)
and
(e
k;s
k
s
) = 0 (26)
Substitute (24) into (22). Taking into account that
\
2
(exp(ikr)) = /
2
exp(ikr) (27)
we get the following equation for the amplitudes
k;s
(t).
0
2

k;s
0t
2
+ .
2
k

k;s
= 0 (28)
where
.
k
= /c (29)
The solution of (28) is well known. It has the form

k;s
=
k;s
(0) exp(i.
k
t) (30)
Then (24) takes the form
A =

k;s
e
k;s

k;s
(0) exp(i (kr .
k
t)) +

k;s
(0) exp(i (kr .
k
t))

(31)
Using (19) we obtain
E =
0A
0t
= i

k;s
e
k;s
.
k

k;s
(0) exp(i (kr .
k
t))

k;s
(0) exp(i (kr .
k
t))

(32)
and
B = cnr|A =i

k;s
[k e
k;s
]

k;s
(0) exp(i (kr .
k
t))

k;s
(0) exp(i (kr .
k
t))

(33)
3
II. Classical Expression of the Electromagnetic Field En-
ergy
The energy of the electromagnetic eld in a classical case has the form
H
em
=
1
2
_
V
d\
_
-
0
1
2
+
1
j
0
1
2
_
(34)
Evaluate (34). We start with the electric eld energy.
1
2
= (E E) =

k;s

k0;s0
(e
k;s
e
k0;s0
) .
k
.
k
0
[
k;s
(0)
k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k +k
0
) r i (.
k
+ .
k0
) t]
+

k;s
(0)

k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k +k
0
) r + i (.
k
+ .
k0
) t]

k;s
(0)

k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k k
0
) r i (.
k
.
k0
) t]

k0;s0
(0)
k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k k
0
) r + i (.
k
.
k0
) t]] (35)
Substitute (35) and evaluate integrals. First of all we use the condition (25).
Then we have
_
V
d\ -
0
1
2
= -
0

k;s

k0s
0
(e
k;s
e
k0;s0
)
L
_
0
dr
L
_
0
dj
L
_
0
d.
[
k;s
(0)
k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k +k
0
) r i (.
k
+ .
k0
) t]
+

k;s
(0)

k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k +k
0
) r + i (.
k
+ .
k0
) t]

k;s
(0)

k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k k
0
) r i (.
k
.
k0
) t]

k0;s0
(0)
k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k k
0
) r + i (.
k
.
k0
) t]] (36)
Consider the rst integral in the right hand side (RHS) of (36). Taking into
account (20), (21) we obtain
L
_
0
dr
L
_
0
dj
L
_
0
d. exp(i (k +k
0
) r) =
L
_
0
drexp(i (/
x
+ /
0
x
) r)

L
_
0
dj exp
_
i
_
/
y
+ /
0
y
_
j
_
L
_
0
d. exp(i (/
z
+ /
0
z
) .)
L
_
0
drexp(i (/
x
+ /
0
x
) r) =
_
1 /
0
x
= /
x
0 /
0
x
,= /
x
= 1c
k
0
x
(kx)
4
and nally
L
_
0
dr
L
_
0
dj
L
_
0
d. exp(i (k +k
0
) r) = 1
3
c
k
0
x
(kx)
c
k
0
y
(ky)
c
k
0
z
(kz)
= \ c
k
0
(k)
(37)
Similarly
L
_
0
dr
L
_
0
dj
L
_
0
d. exp(i (k +k
0
) r) = \ c
k
0
(k)
(38)
L
_
0
dr
L
_
0
dj
L
_
0
d. exp[i (k k
0
) r] = \ c
kk
0 (39)
Substituting (37)-(39) into (36) and taking into account that according to (29)
k = k
0
.
k
= .
k
0 (40)
we obtain
_
V
d\ -
0
1
2
= -
0
\

k;s

k0;s
0
2c
kk
0 (e
k;s
e
k0;s0
) .
k
.
k
0
_

k;s
0 (0)

k0;s
0 (0)

-
0
\

k;s

k0;s
0
c
k(k
0
)
(e
k;s
e
k0;s0
) .
k
.
k
0
_

k;s
(0)
k0;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k0;s
0 (0)

= 2-
0
\

k;s
.
2
k

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0)
-
0
\

k;s;s
0
.
2
k
(e
k;s
e
k;s0
)
_

k;s
(0)
k;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k;s
0 (0)

(41)
where we used the condition (25), and as a result the summation over :
0
vanishes.
Now evaluate the magnetic eld contribution to the energy (34).
_
V
d\
1
j
0
1
2
=
_
V
d\
1
j
0

k;s

k0;s0
([k e
k;s
] [k
0
e
k
0
;s
0 ])
[
k;s
(0)
k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k +k
0
) r i (.
k
+ .
k0
) t]
+

k;s
(0)

k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k +k
0
) r + i (.
k
+ .
k0
) t]

k;s
(0)

k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k k
0
) r i (.
k
.
k0
) t]

k0;s0
(0)
k0;s0
(0) exp[i (k k
0
) r + i (.
k
.
k0
) t]] (42)
We rst use the identity
([k e
k;s
] [k
0
e
k
0
;s
0 ]) =
_
k k
0
_
(e
k;s
e
k
0
;s
0 )
5
(k e
k
0
;s
0 ) (k
0
e
k;s
) (43)
Then we once more evaluate the integrals similarly to the previous case. Then
we obtain _
V
d\
1
j
0
1
2
=
\
j
0

k;s

k0;s0
_
k k
0
_
(e
k;s
e
k
0
;s
0 )
c
k(k
0
)
_

k;s
(0)
k0;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k0;s
0 (0)

+
\
j
0

k;s

k0;s0
_
k k
0
_
(e
k;s
e
k
0
;s
0 ) 2c
kk
0
k;s
(0)

k
0
;s
0 (0)
+
\
j
0

k;s

k0;s0
(k e
k
0
;s
0 ) (k
0
e
k;s
)
c
k(k
0
)
_

k;s
(0)
k0;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k0;s
0 (0)

2\
j
0

k;s

k0;s0
(k e
k
0
;s
0 ) (k
0
e
k;s
) c
kk
0
k;s
(0)

k;s
(0)
=
\
j
0

k;s;s0
/
2
(e
k;s
e
k;s
0 )
_

k;s
(0)
k;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k;s
0 (0)

+
2\
j
0

k;s
/
2

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0) (44)
where
(k e
k
0
;s
0 ) (k
0
e
k;s
) c
k(k
0
)
= (k e
k;s
0 ) (k e
k;s
) = 0 (45)
and
(k e
k
0
;s
0 ) (k
0
e
k;s
) c
kk
0 = (k e
k;s
0 ) (k e
k;s
) = 0 (46)
according to the transversality condition (26). Substitute (41) and (46) into
(34).
H
em
=
1
2
2-
0
\

k;s
.
2
k

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0)

1
2
-
0
\

k;s;s
0
.
2
k
(e
k;s
e
k;s0
)
_

k;s
(0)
k;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k;s
0 (0)

+
1
2
2\
j
0

k;s
/
2

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0)
+
1
2
\
j
0

k;s;s0
/
2
(e
k;s
e
k;s
0 )
_

k;s
(0)
k;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k;s
0 (0)

(47)
Taking into account that
/
2
j
0
=
.
2
k
c
2
j
0
= .
2
k
-
0
j
0
j
0
= .
2
k
-
0
(48)
6
and substituting (48) into the third and fourth terms of (47) we obtain
H
em
= 2-
0
\

k;s
.
2
k

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0)

1
2
-
0
\

k;s;s
0
.
2
k
(e
k;s
e
k;s0
)
_

k;s
(0)
k;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k;s
0 (0)

+
1
2
-
0
\

k;s;s
0
.
2
k
(e
k;s
e
k;s0
)
_

k;s
(0)
k;s
0 (0) +

k;s
(0)

k;s
0 (0)

= 2-
0
\

k;s
.
2
k

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0) (49)
III. Quantization of the Multi Mode Field
In order to quantize the classical Hamiltonian (49) we introduce the classical
canonical variables having the meaning of the coordinate
ks
and momentum
j
ks
.

k;s
=
1
2.
k
_
-
0
\
[.
k

ks
+ ij
ks
] (50)

k;s
=
1
2.
k
_
-
0
\
[.
k

ks
ij
ks
] (51)
Substitute (50) and (51) into (49). We obtain.
H
em
= 2-
0
\

k;s
.
2
k

k;s
(0)

k;s
(0) = 2-
0
\
1
4-
0
\

k;s
.
2
k
1
.
2
k
_
.
2
k

2
ks
+ j
2
ks

=
1
2

k;s
_
.
2
k

2
ks
+ j
2
ks

(52)
which corresponds to the sum of unit mass harmonic oscillator energies
_
.
2
k

2
ks
+ j
2
ks

.
Now we replace the classical variables with operators
ks
and j
ks
satisfying the
commutation relations
[
ks
,
k
0
s0
] = 0; [ j
ks
; j
k
0
s
0 ] ; [
ks
, j
k
0
s
0 ] = i/c
kk
0 c
ss
0 (53)
These relations dier from the one particle operators relations with c functions
of Kroneker. This dierence simply means that the operators of the dierent
oscillators are independent. The Hamiltonian operator takes the form.

H
em
=
1
2

k;s
_
.
2
k

2
ks
+ j
2
ks

(54)
Now we introduce the annihilation and creation operators for each oscillator
similarly to the single mode eld.
a
ks
=
1
_
2 /.
k
[.
k

ks
+ i j
ks
] (55)
7
a
y
ks
=
1
_
2 /.
k
[.
k

ks
i j
ks
] (56)
Using the commutation relations (53) we once more obtain similarly to the single
mode eld quantization the following commutation relations for the photon
operators a
ks
and a
y
ks
.
[a
ks
, a
k
0
s
0 ] = 0;
_
a
y
ks
, a
y
k
0
s
0
_
= 0 (57)
_
a
ks
, a
y
k
0
s
0
_
= c
kk
0 c
ss
0 (58)
Evidently, the photon annihilation and creation operators of the same oscilla-
tor with the same k, : have the same commutation relations as in the single
mode eld, while the operators of dierent oscillators are commutative. From
expressions (55) and (56) we have

ks
=
_
2/.
k
2.
k
_
a
ks
+a
y
ks
_
=
_
/
2.
k
_
a
ks
+a
y
ks
_
(59)
and
j
ks
=
_
2/.
k
2i
_
a
ks
a
y
ks
_
= i
_
/.
k
2
_
a
y
ks
a
ks
_
(60)
Substitute (59), (60) into (54). We obtain

H
em
=
1
2

k;s
_
.
2
k
/
2.
k
_
a
ks
+a
y
ks
_
2

/.
k
2
_
a
y
ks
a
ks
_
2
_
=
1
2

k;s
/.
k
2
_
a
2
ks
+
_
a
y
ks
_
2
+ 2a
ks
a
y
ks

_
a
y
ks
_
2
a
2
ks
+ 2a
y
ks
a
ks
_
=
1
2

k;s
/.
k
_
a
y
ks
a
ks
+a
ks
a
y
ks
_
(61)
According to condition (58) we have
_
a
ks
, a
y
ks
_
= 1 a
ks
a
y
ks
= 1 +a
y
ks
a
ks
(62)
Substituting (62) into (61) we nally obtain

H
em
=
1
2

k;s
/.
k
_
a
y
ks
a
ks
+ 1 +a
y
ks
a
ks
_
=

k;s
/.
k
_
a
y
ks
a
ks
+
1
2
_
(63)
8
Expression (63) shows that the multimode electromagnetic eld can be presented
as a number of harmonic oscillators with dierent frequencies. We dene the
photon number operator :
ks
as follows
:
ks
= a
y
ks
a
ks
(64)
and

H
em
=

k;s
/.
k
_
:
ks
+
1
2
_
(65)
Each of the modes characterized by the wave vector k and polarization : is
independent from other modes. It has an associated set of number eigenstates
[:
ks
. The eigenstates of the ,th mode can be dened as [:
j
where :
kjsj
= :
j
.
Then the Hamiltonian takes the form.

H
em
=

j
/.
j
_
:
j
+
1
2
_
(66)
The multimode photon number state is a product of the number states of all
modes which has the form
[:
1
[:
2
[:
3
... = [:
1
, :
2
, :
3
, ... = [:
j
(67)
This is an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian

H
em
such that

H
em
[:
j
= 1 [:
j
(68)
where
1 =

j
/.
j
_
:
j
+
1
2
_
(69)
These number states are orthogonal:
:
1
, :
2
, :
3
, ...[:
0
1
, :
0
2
, :
0
3
, ... = c
n1n
0
1
c
n2n
0
2
c
n3n
0
3
... (70)
The action of annihilation and creation operators on the ,th mode is
a
j
[:
1
, :
2
, :
3
, ...:
j
, .. =
_
:
j
[:
1
, :
2
, :
3
, ...:
j
1, .. (71)
a
y
j
[:
1
, :
2
, :
3
, ...:
j
, .. =
_
:
j
+ 1 [:
1
, :
2
, :
3
, ...:
j
+ 1, .. (72)
The multimode vacuum state is dened as follows.
[0 = [0
1
, 0
2
, 0
3
, ...0
j
, .. (73)
and
a
j
[0 = 0 (74)
for all ,. All number states can be generated from the vacuum state similarly
to the single mode eld.
[:
j
=

j
_
a
y
j
_
nj
_
:
j
[0 (75)
9
IV. Operators of the Field
Comparing (50), (51) and (59), (60) we obtain the vector potential amplitude
operators. Namely

k;s
=
1
2.
k
_
-
0
\
[.
k

ks
+ ij
ks
] =
=
1
2.
k
_
-
0
\
_
2 /.
k
a
ks
=
_
/
2.
k
-
0
\
a
ks
(76)
and

k;s
=
1
2.
k
_
-
0
\
[.
k

ks
ij
ks
]
=
1
2.
k
_
-
0
\
_
2 /.
k
a
y
ks
=
_
/
2.
k
-
0
\
a
y
ks
(77)
The quantized vector potential takes the form.

A =

k;s
e
k;s
_
/
2.
k
-
0
\

_
a
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t)) +a
y
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t))
_
(78)
The electric eld operator has the form

E(r, t) = i

k;s
e
k;s
_
/.
k
2-
0
\

_
a
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t)) a
y
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t))
_
(79)
and the magnetic eld operator is given by

B = i

k;s
[k e
k;s
]
_
/
2.
k
-
0
\

_
a
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t)) a
y
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t))
_
(80)
The electric eld operator (79) can be written as follows.

E(r, t) =

E
(+)
(r, t) +

E
()
(r, t) (81)
where

E
(+)
(r, t) is called the positive frequency part and has the form

E
(+)
(r, t) = i

k;s
e
k;s
_
/.
k
2-
0
\
a
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t)) (82)
10
The term (82) is a collective annihilation operator. The term

E
()
(r, t) is called
the negative frequency part and it is given by

E
()
(r, t) = i

k;s
e
k;s
_
/.
k
2-
0
\
a
y
ks
exp(i (kr .
k
t)) (83)
The term (83) is a collective creation operator.
11