Eberlein, Claudia and Robaschik, Dieter (2006) Quantum electrodynamics near a dielectric half-space. Physical Review D, 73 (2). 025009. ISSN 1550-7998

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Abstract

Radiative corrections in systems near imperfectly reflecting boundaries are investigated. As an example, the self-energy of an unbound electron close to a single surface is calculated at one-loop level. The surface is modeled by a nondispersive dielectric half-space of a constant refractive index n. In contrast to previous, perfectly reflecting models, the evanescent modes in the optically thinner medium are taken into account and are found to play a physically very important role. The Feynman propagator of the photon field is determined and given in two alternative representations, which include the evanescent modes either as a separate contribution or through analytic continuation and deformation of the integration path for the normal component of the complex wave vector k. The evaluation of the self-energy diagram encounters a number of problems that are specific to the boundary dependence and to the imperfect reflection at the boundary. These problems and methods for their resolution are discussed in depth.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	The paper re-designs the formalism of quantum electrodynamics for a dielectric half-space located close-by and thus affecting the electromagnetic field. As an example, the 1-loop corrections to the electron's self-energy are calculated. I initiated the work and did it in collaboration with a visiting guest professor from Germany.
Schools and Departments:	School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User:	Claudia Eberlein
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2012 19:10
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2017 13:55
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/19473

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