The following article is Open access

Canonical quantization of macroscopic electromagnetism

Published 7 December 2010 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation T G Philbin 2010 New J. Phys. 12 123008 DOI 10.1088/1367-2630/12/12/123008

1367-2630/12/12/123008

Abstract

Application of the standard canonical quantization rules of quantum field theory to macroscopic electromagnetism has encountered obstacles due to material dispersion and absorption. This has led to a phenomenological approach to macroscopic quantum electrodynamics where no canonical formulation is attempted. In this paper macroscopic electromagnetism is canonically quantized. The results apply to any linear, inhomogeneous, magnetodielectric medium with dielectric functions that obey the Kramers–Kronig relations. The prescriptions of the phenomenological approach are derived from the canonical theory.

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