Hannover 2020 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 45: Quantum Effects (QED) II
Q 45.2: Talk
Thursday, March 12, 2020, 11:15–11:30, f442
Theory of quantum vacuum detection — •Frieder Lindel1, Robert Bennett1,2, and Stefan Yoshi Buhmann1,2 — 1Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg — 2Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), Germany
When quantising the electromagnetic radiation field, one of the most fascinating consequences is the existence of fluctuations associated with the ground state. These vacuum fluctuations manifest themselves indirectly through their influence on matter where they may be regarded as responsible for important processes, e.g. spontaneous emission, the Lamb shift, and the Casimir force. More recently, an alternative route to observing the quantum vacuum has been developed in electro-optic sampling experiments: they are based on the output statistics of ultrashort laser pulses sent through nonlinear crystals whose optical properties are influenced by the vacuum fluctuations [1,2].
In my talk, I will report on the development of a theoretical framework based on macroscopic quantum electrodynamics which is capable of describing the output statistics of electro-optic sampling experiments accounting for absorption, dispersion and general optical environments. It is in good agreement with available experimental data and recovers previous theoretical findings in certain limits. Furthermore, I will discuss how it can be exploited in order to serve as a convenient tool for detailed studies of the full polaritonic QED ground state in general environments.
[1] C. Riek et al., Science 350, 420 (2015)
[2] I.-C. Benea-Chelmus et al., Nature 568, 7751 (2019)