Light under a matter field microscope

TL;DR

This paper experimentally verifies the dense limit condition for light-matter interaction in physical optics, revealing a natural sub-wavelength mode structure and a spatial restriction of light crossing matter interfaces.

Contribution

It introduces a precise dense limit for light interaction with matter and proposes a natural sub-wavelength mode structure for light based on experimental evidence.

Findings

Dense limit coincides with optical wavenumber matching spatial frequency

Plane wave methods are valid within a restricted 'wavewidth'

Reveals a natural sub-wavelength mode structure for light

Abstract

Textbooks state that the successful application of Maxwell's Equations in physical optics problems requires light to interact with matter where any inhomogeneities are spaced by less than or equal to the wavelength of light; the 'dense' limit. This untested statement is proved correct in the experiment reported here and a precise dense limit is found. A 'matter field microscope' is used. The dense limit appears exactly when the (approximately fixed) optical wavenumber coincides with the (rapidly increasing) spatial frequency for a discontinuous matter field as it develops from a dilute to a concentrated material system. It is inferred that in the dilute material system examined here plane wave methods are only valid over a well-defined, but restricted, transverse dimension which is introduced here as the 'wavewidth'. This appears to reveal a natural sub-wavelength mode structure for light. This result then allows the application of the uncertainty relation to describe a longitudinal spatial restriction of the light when crossing matter density interfaces. Physical optics using 'spatial' rays and 'spatial' photons can then be described on this model for light.