Open AccessState-vector function for a photon
Author(s) -
Zhixin Yao,
Pan Bai-Liang,
Gang Chen,
Jiasong Zhong
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.55.2158
Subject(s) - physics , photon , polarization (electrochemistry) , quantum mechanics , state vector , amplitude , probability amplitude , photon polarization , total angular momentum quantum number , angular momentum , quantum electrodynamics , classical mechanics , quantum , quantum dynamics , chemistry , quantum operation
On the basis of the generalized Schr?dinger equation a novel state-vector function that obeys photon motion equation under three quantum conditions has been constructed for a photon in one dimension, which can describe completely the properties of a photon as a relativistic free particle, including its energy and momentum and spin angular momentum. The state-vector function not only defines microscopic parameters such as the probability amplitude and the phase for a photon, but also relates them with the macroscopic polarization of a light beam. As an example, it successfully explains the puzzling polarization problem of a light beam.