Quantum electrodynamics in a linear absorptive dielectric medium

Abstract

The electromagnetic field in a linear absorptive dielectric medium is quantized in the framework of the damped polarization model by a new minimal coupling scheme. A Hamiltonian containing a reservoir with continuous degrees of freedom is proposed. The reservoir minimally couples to the dielectric polarization and the electromagnetic field. The Langevin equation is obtained as the equation of motion of the polarization field. Finally, the equations of motion are solved for homogeneous dielectrics. © 2008 THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.