Continuous Emission of A Radiation Quantum

Abstract

It is in accordance with such experiments as single photon self-interference that a photon, conveying one radiation energy quantum "$ h \times$ frequency", is spatially extensive and stretches an electromagnetic wave train. A wave train, hence an energy quantum, can only be emitted by its source gradually. In both the two processes the wave and "particle" attributes of the radiation field are simultaneously prominent, where an overall satisfactory theory has been lacking. This paper presents a first principles treatment, in a unified framework of the classical and quantum mechanics, of the latter process, the emission of a single radiation quantum based on the dynamics of the radiation-emitting source, a charged oscillator which is itself extensive across its confining potential well. During the emission of one single radiation quantum, the extensive charged oscillator undergoes a continuous radiation damping and is non-stationary. This process is in this work treated using a quasi stationary approach, whereby the classical equation of motion, which directly facilitates the correspondence principle for a particle oscillator, and the quantum wave equation are established for each sufficiently brief time interval. As an inevitable consequence of the division of the total time for emitting one single quantum, a fractional Planck constant $h$ is introduced. The solutions to the two simultaneous equations yield for the charged oscillator a continuously exponentially decaying Hamiltonian that is at the same time quantised with respect to the fractional-$h$ at any instant of time; and the radiation wave field emitted over time stretches a wave train of finite length. The total system of the source and radiation field maintains at any time (integer $n$ times) one whole energy quantum, $h \times$ frequency, in complete accordance with the notion of quantum mechanics and experiment.