Comment on "System-environment coupling derived by Maxwell's boundary conditions from the weak to the ultrastrong light-matter coupling regime"

TL;DR

This paper critiques a recent microscopic model of light-matter coupling, clarifying that previous conclusions about dissipation rates in the ultrastrong regime were artifacts caused by inconsistent approximations and parameter choices.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the discrepancies in dissipation rates are due to methodological inconsistencies, not fundamental physical effects, clarifying the correct approach in ultrastrong coupling regimes.

Findings

Incorrect application of RWA led to misleading dissipation rates

Proper parameter selection resolves discrepancies in models

The critique clarifies the validity of microscopic models in ultrastrong coupling

Abstract

In a recent work [arXiv:1301.3960], Bamba and Ogawa developed a microscopic model describing the field of a photonic cavity coupled to a matter exciton-like resonance. One of the results they obtain studying such a model is that, in the ultrastrong coupling regime, usually safe approaches can give wrong results for the dissipation rates of the polaritonic excitations. In particular the dissipation rates calculated applying the rotating wave approximation on the system-environment coupling qualitatively differ from the ones calculated using a microscopic theory based on the quantum electrodynamics for dielectric media. Here I show that this result is an artifact, caused by an inconsistent application of the rotating wave approximation and by a questionable parameter choice.