Field quantization in a plasma: Photon mass and charge

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2000

Autores

Mendonca, JT (Autor) Outra; Martins, AM (Autor) Outra; Guerreiro, A (Autor) FCUP

Revista

Título: Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

Vol. 62

Páginas: 2989-2991

ISSN: 1539-3755

Editora: American Physical Society

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 28 Citações

Scopus - 28 Citações

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências exactas e naturais > Física

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-000-ZEN

DOI: 10.1103/physreve.62.2989

Abstract (EN): It is shown here that st straightforward procedure can be used to quantize the linearized equations for an electromagnetic field in a plasma. This leads to a definition of an effective mass for the transverse photons, and a different one far the longitudinal photons, or plasmons. Both masses are simply proportional to the electron plasma density. A nonlinear perturbative analysis can also be used to extend the quantization procedure, in order to include the ponderomotive force effects. This leads to the definition of a photon charge operator. The mean value of this operator, for a quantum state with a photon occupation number equal to 1, is the equivalent charge of the photon in a plasma.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica