Schrödinger and Maxwell's Equations: on their similarities

Friday Talk, 16th April 2010

Oka Kurniawan
Computational Electronics and Photonics

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 Electron and Photon
E2 E2
ħω ħω

E1 E1

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 The equations

2 2
 ℏ 2  E 2
iℏ =−  V  0 0 2
= E
t 2m t
i 2 m  2 B
−
2
=  0 0 2 = 2 B
ℏ t t

2
2 f 2
c 2
= f
t

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 Classical Case
E

EC2

EC1

z 0 1 T(E)

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 Comparison with Classical Case
E

EC2

EC1

z 0 1 T(E)

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 The case of a single barrier
EC2

EC1 ε1 ε2

z z
ik x x ik y y −iEt/ ħ x x y y −i  t
 r ,t =C  z  e e e E y r , t=C E y0  z  e e e

   
2
d  2m 2 2 d E y0 2
 n z 
2
2 2
2
 2
 E −E C  z −k x −k y =0  − x − y E y0 =0
dz ħ dz 2 c 2

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 The analogy: Quantum and Optics
■ Streams of electrons ■ Streams of photons
(EM wave)
■ At interface: ■ At interface:
 Reflection  Reflection
 Transmission  Transmission
■ Interface → energy ■ Interface → refractive
barrier index difference
2 2

R=

k 1−k 2
k 1k 2  R=

n1−n2
n1n2 
2 2

T=

k 2 2 k1
k 1 k 1k 2  T=

2 v 2 2 n1
1 v 1 n1n 2 
1 2
I =  v E0
2 7
 Another simple case

V(x)

a x a

d 2  ħ2 d 2 E0 2
2
 E =0 k E 0 =0
dx 2m dx
2

= An sin k n x  E 0 = Aq sin  k q x 

=0 , for x=0 and x=a E 0 =0, for x =0 and x=a

n q
k n= k q=
a a
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 Simple example: discrete frequencies

V(x)

a x a

v = c/2a

E = π2Ћ2/2ma2

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Quantum and Optical Confinement

EC

ħω

EV

Taken from wikipedia

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 Laser: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

E2
ħω ħω
ħω Active medium
E1
Active medium
a

EC

ħω

EV

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 Nano Laser

[1] M.T. Hill,et al., “Lasing in metallic-coated nanocavities,”

Nat Photon, vol. 1, Oct. 2007, pp. 589-594.

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 References
■ Datta, “Quantum Phenomena,” Modular Series on Solid State Devices, Vol VIII, Addison-
Wesley (1989). page 12-28.
■ Joannopoulus, et al., “Photonic Crystals: Molding the flow of light,” 2nd Ed, Princeton
(2008). page 22 and Appendix A. (E-book download from TWiki)

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Solid-State and Photonic Crystal

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Summary

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