Photon localization barrier can be overcome
arXiv:quant-ph/0409034 · doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2004.11.020
Abstract
In contradistinction to a widespread belief that the spatial localization of photons is restricted by a power-law falloff of the photon energy density, I.Bialynicki-Birula [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5247 (1998)] has proved that any stronger -- up to an almost exponential -- falloff is allowed. We are showing that for certain specifically designed cylindrical one-photon states the localization is even better in lateral directions. If the photon state is built from the so-called focus wave mode, the falloff in the waist cross-section plane turns out to be quadratically exponential (Gaussian) and such strong localization persists in the course of propagation.
Short communication -- 4 pages, 2 figures
References in corpus (3)
Cited by in corpus (10)
- Beams of electromagnetic radiation carrying angular momentum: The Riemann-Silberstein vector and the classical-quantum correspondence
- Photon wave mechanics and position eigenvectors
- Quantum electromagnetic X-waves
- Approaching single-photon pulses
- Limits for realizing single photons
- Strictly localized three-dimensional states close to single photons
- Isomorphism between the Bialynicki-Birula and the Landau-Peierls Fock space quantization of the electromagnetic field in position representation
- Tunneling times of single photons
- Electromagnetic field expectations as measures of photon localization
- Nonlocality of the energy density for all single-photon states