Title: Quantum Dynamics of Polarizable Media: A Pseudo-Bosonic Approach to Dissipative Optics
When: Monday, June 2, 2025, 12:00
Place: Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Module 5, Seminar Room (5th Floor)
Speaker: Frank E. Quintela Rodriguez
Classical polarizable models have long been the standard for simulating multiscale condensed-phase systems, yet their inherently dissipative nature calls for a rigorous quantum treatment. In this talk, I will present a Hamiltonian framework for the quantum dynamics of polarizable sources, built on a generalized theory of the damped harmonic oscillator and formulated using pseudo-boson theory to capture coherent-state behavior. This formalism naturally situates polarizable media within the language of open quantum systems. We apply this theory to analyze the optical response of two distinct plasmonic systems, highlighting new insights that emerge from our perspective. Utilizing the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics and the integrability of quadratic Hamiltonians, I will derive a self-consistent relation for the emitted electric field under a semiclassical approximation, using exact expressions for the medium’s polarization. To conclude, I will present a master equation describing the open dynamics of a quantum system interacting with such a polarizable medium, along with analytical expressions for correlation functions evaluated over arbitrary Gaussian states. Finally, I will discuss possible connections with standard formulations of macroscopic electrodynamics. The aim is to bridge classical electrodynamics and quantum optics, offering a unified treatment of dissipative media relevant to nanophotonics, quantum plasmonics, and condensed-matter systems.
Reference: arXiv:2501.12070 [quant-ph]
