Embedding the photon with its relativistic mass as a particle into the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract

The particle picture presented by the author in the paper "A particle picture of the optical resonator" [K. Altmann, ASSL 2014 Conference Paper ATu2A.29], which shows that the probability density of a photon propagating with a Gaussian wave can be computed by the use of a Schrödinger equation, is generalized to the case of a wave with arbitrary shape of the phase front. Based on a consideration of the changing propagation direction of the relativistic mass density propagating with the electromagnetic wave, a transverse force acting on the photon is derived. The expression obtained for this force makes it possible to show that the photon moves within a transverse potential that in combination with a Schrödinger equation allows to describe the transverse quantum mechanical motion of the photon by the use of matter wave theory, even though the photon has no rest mass. The obtained results are verified for the plane, the spherical, and the Gaussian wave. Additional verification could be provided also by the fact that the mathematical equation describing the Guoy phase shift could be derived from this particle picture in full agreement with wave optics. One more verification could be obtained by the fact that within the range of the validity of paraxial wave optics, Snell's law could also be derived from this particle picture. Numerical validation of the obtained results for the case of the general wave is under development.