Insights into the behavior of certain optical systems gleaned from Feynman's approach to quantum electrodynamics
Author
Mansuripur, M.Affiliation
James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of ArizonaIssue Date
2022
Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher
SPIECitation
Mansuripur, M. (2022). Insights into the behavior of certain optical systems gleaned from Feynman’s approach to quantum electrodynamics. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 12197.Rights
Copyright © 2022 SPIE.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Richard Feynman's method of path integrals is based on the fundamental assumption that a system starting at a point A and arriving at a point B takes all possible paths from A to B, with each path contributing its own (complex) probability amplitude. The sum of the amplitudes over all these paths then yields the overall probability amplitude that the system starting at A would end up at B. We apply Feynman's method to several optical systems of practical interest and discuss the nuances of the method as well as instances where the predicted outcomes agree or disagree with those of classical optical theory. Examples include the properties of beam-splitters, passage of single photons through Mach-Zehnder and Sagnac interferometers, electric and magnetic dipole scattering, reciprocity, time-reversal symmetry, the optical theorem, the Ewald-Oseen extinction theorem, far field diffraction, and the two-photon interference phenomenon known as the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect. © 2022 SPIE.Note
Immediate accessISSN
0277-786XISBN
9781510653788Version
Final published versionae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1117/12.2632902