Atomic emission rates in inhomogeneous media with applications to photonic band structures

Abstract

There has been a great deal of interest in periodic dielectric materials that exhibit photonic band structures. One of the more interesting features of such a substance is its ability to alter the emission rate of probe atoms embedded in the periodic lattice. Large enhancements and complete inhibition of emission rates can be obtained. It has been known for some time that the influence of a cavity on atomic emission is essentially a classical effect. Hence, we develop a general classical treatment of radiation rates in an inhomogenous medium. Our results agree with those of a fully quantum calculation, and are applied to a simple scalar model of a dipole in a one-dimensional periodic lattice of the Kronig-Penney type.