Relativistic Maxwell-Bloch Equations with Applications to Astrophysics

Abstract

We derive relativistic Maxwell-Bloch equations for potential applications in astronomical environments, where various radiative processes are known to occur, including the maser action and Dicke's superradiance. We show that for both phenomena a radiating system's response is preserved at different relative velocities between the system's rest frame and the observer, while the relevant timescales and the radiation intensity transform as expected from relativistic considerations. We verify that the level of coherence between groups of emitters travelling at different speeds is unchanged in all reference frames. We also derive relativistic versions of the maser equations applicable in the steady-state regime.

arXiv comment10 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (15)

• The FRB 20121102A November rain in 2018 observed with the Arecibo Telescope
• A simple relationship for the spectro-temporal structure of bursts from FRB 121102
• Quantum theory of spontaneous emission by real moving atoms
• Evidence of a shared spectro-temporal law between sources of repeating fast radio bursts
• Wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy in the hard x-ray regime of a heavy highly-charged ion: The 1s Lamb shift in hydrogen-like gold
• Explaining fast radio bursts through Dicke's superradiance
• Explaining Recurring Maser Flares in the ISM Through Large-scale Entangled Quantum Mechanical States
• Triggered superradiance and fast radio bursts
• New evidence for Dicke's superradiance in the 6.7 GHz methanol spectral line in the interstellar medium
• Dicke's Superradiance in Astrophysics. II -- The OH 1612 MHz Line
• A broad survey of spectro-temporal properties from FRB 20121102A
• Astronomical masers and Dicke's superradiance
• Laser spectroscopy of the ${}^2{S}_{1/2}{-}^2{P}_{1/2}$, ${}^2{P}_{3/2}$ transitions in stored and cooled relativistic C${}^{3+}$ ions
• Spectro-temporal analysis of ultra-fast radio bursts using per-channel arrival times
• Superradiance from a Relativistic Source