Non-reciprocal emissivity, partial coherence, and amplification of internal energy from photon recycling when thermal radiation is sourced within matter

TL;DR

This paper explores how photon recycling within matter influences non-reciprocal emissivity, partial coherence, and internal energy amplification, revealing complex interactions between photon modes, resonances, and thermal effects that impact thermal radiation behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model linking photon mode hybridization, resonances, and internal energy dynamics, advancing understanding of thermal radiation and photon recycling effects in matter.

Findings

Model accurately matches experimental data for water and silica.

Resonant spectral intensities explained by photon mode hybridization.

Photon density gradients enhance internal heat flux via phonon drag.

Abstract

Photons excited into ground state modes at finite temperature display partitioning among photon phases, lifetimes and distances travelled since creation. These distributions set the distance from an interface a created photon has some chance of emission. Excited photons at each frequency have a phase velocity set by each mode propagation index which determines mode density and internal energy contribution. All photons emitted after striking an interface obliquely are refracted. Their exit intensities are then irreversible except when weak internal attenuation occurs. At low temperature attenuation index is small so reversibility is approximate. As temperature rises refraction direction varies. Total emission remains reversible after transitioning through a non equilibrium state with no other heat inputs. In equilibrium the densities of excitations that create and annihilate photons are in balance with photon densities while emissivity depends on both indices and internal incident direction. Modelled exit intensities from pure water and crystalline silica contain strong resonant intensities and match data accurately. Intrinsic resonances formed within liquids and compounds are due to photon modes hybridising with localized excitations, including molecular oscillations and the anharmonic component of lattice distortions. They explain the many resonant spectral intensities seen in remote sensing. Each hybrid oscillator is a photonic virtual bound state whose energy fluctuates between levels separated by mode energy. Refraction induces solid angle changes and often anomalous refraction while thermal recycling of internally reflected photons modifies intensities and internal energy. Enhanced internal heat flux from phonon drag by photon density gradients under an external temperature gradient is also predicted.