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The classical limit of quantum optics: not what it seems at first sight
- Source :
- New Journal of Physics
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- What is light and how to describe it has always been a central subject in physics. As our understanding has increased, so have our theories changed: Geometrical optics, wave optics and quantum optics are increasingly sophisticated descriptions, each referring to a larger class of phenomena than its predecessor. But how exactly are these theories related? How and when wave optics reduces to geometric optics is a rather simple problem. Similarly, how quantum optics reduces to wave optics has been considered to be a very simple business as well. It's not so. As we show here the classical limit of quantum optics is a far more complicated issue; it is in fact dramatically more involved and it requires a complete revision of all our intuitions. The revised intuitions can then serve as a guide to finding novel quantum effects.<br />4 pages, 2 figures
- Subjects :
- Quantum optics
Physics
Class (set theory)
Quantum Physics
Geometrical optics
FOS: Physical sciences
General Physics and Astronomy
Physics::Optics
Physical optics
01 natural sciences
Classical limit
010305 fluids & plasmas
Sight
Theoretical physics
0103 physical sciences
Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
010306 general physics
Simple (philosophy)
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- New Journal of Physics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c267636cf4c5e9fc250eb3152bb7622a