Black-body photon clustering by semi-classical means

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that photon clustering in black-body radiation can be modeled using semi-classical methods, aligning with quantum predictions, and highlights the potential to control photon correlations by manipulating stimulated emission.

Contribution

It introduces a semi-classical approach to calculate photon clustering in black bodies, matching quantum theory results, and suggests ways to influence photon emission correlations.

Findings

Photon clustering can be modeled semi-classically.

Results agree with quantum theory predictions.

Stimulated emission influences photon correlations.

Abstract

If stimulated emission could be turned off then only uncorrelated photons would be emitted from black bodies and the photon counting statistics would be Poissonian. Through the process of stimulated emission, some fraction of the photons emitted from a black body are correlated and thus emitted in clusters. This photon clustering can be calculated by semi-classical means. The corresponding results are in agreement with quantum theory.