We study the transition rates of atoms inside and outside dielectric spheres. The rates are calculated classically, and the results are shown to agree with those obtained using other approaches. For atoms outside, our analytic results are equivalent to those of Ruppin in the case of zero conductivity. Numerical results are presented, which show that resonances have important effects on the transition rates, and that enhancement factors of hundreds are possible under suitable conditions.
REFERENCES
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). We have rewritten the results of reference in more compact form here. Our vector spherical harmonics are those defined in A. R. Edmonds, Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics (Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 1968), and differ from those of Ruppin.814.
See, for example,
H.
Chew
, M.
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, and D. D.
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, Phys. Rev. A
16
, 320
(1977
). The result given is a slight generalization of the result of this paper, which gives the scattered field due to a dipole on the z axis.15.
This equation was derived for an atom in vacuum. If the atom is in a medium with dielectric constant in our discussion), the factor should be replaced by This has been done in the discussion that follows. To get multiply in the text by the index of refraction of the medium in which the atom is located.
16.
See also
M.
Kerker
, D. S.
Wang
, and H.
Chew
, Appl. Opt.
19
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(1980
). This paper, unfortunately, is marred by a large number of typographical errors.17.
M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, Handbook of Math. Functions (National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C., 1964).
18.
I am indebted to Dr. S. Arnold for informing me of the location of this sharp resonance.
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© 1987 American Institute of Physics.
1987
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