Quantization of electromagnetic field and analysis of Purcell effect based on formalism of scattering matrix

Abstract

We have developed a rigorous self-consistent approach for the quantization of electromagnetic field in inhomogeneous structures. The approach is based on utilization of the scattering matrix of the system. Instead of the use of standard periodic Born-Karman boundary conditions, we use the quantization condition implying equating eigenvalues of the scattering matrix (S-matrix) of the system to unity (S-quantization). In the trivial case of uniform medium boundary condition for S-quantization is nothing but periodic boundary condition. S-quantization allows calculating modification of the spontaneous emission rate for arbitrary inhomogeneous structure and direction of the emitted radiation. S-quantization solves the long-standing problem coupled to normalization of the quasi-stationary electromagnetic modes. Examples of application of S-quantization for the calculation of spontaneous emission rate for the cases of Bragg reflector and microcavity are demonstrated.