Open AccessContradiction within wave optics and its solution within a particle picture
Author(s) -
Konrad Altmann
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.003731
Subject(s) - paraxial approximation , physics , quantum optics , photon , geometrical optics , optics , resonator , transverse plane , optical tweezers , diffraction , physical optics , quantum mechanics , classical mechanics , beam (structure) , structural engineering , engineering
It is shown that the condition provided by paraxial wave optics for the resonance frequencies of the eigenmodes of an optical resonator leads to a contradiction, if the resonator is divided into subcavities. Moreover, it is shown that the results obtained in this way imply a violation of energy conservation. Since for nearly plane waves, paraxial wave optics becomes exact within wave optics, this contradiction also concerns wave optics. A solution for this problem is proposed within a particle picture as presented recently by the author. It is based on a consideration of the change of momentum of a photon bouncing between two equiphase surfaces with vanishing distance. This leads to a transverse force exerted on the photon. Assigning a relativistic mass to the photon leads to a Schrödinger equation describing a transverse motion of the photon. In this way the transverse modes of an optical resonator can be understood as the quantum mechanical eigenfunctions of a single photon.