Subluminal and superluminal velocities of free-space photons
Fuente:
arXiv
Salvato in:
| Autore principale: | |
|---|---|
| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
|
| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | |
| Tags: |
Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
|
| _version_ | 1866909029037506560 |
|---|---|
| author | Bliokh, Konstantin Y. |
| author_facet | Bliokh, Konstantin Y. |
| contents | We consider rectilinear free-space propagation of electromagnetic wavepackets using electromagnetic field theory, scalar wavepacket propagation, and quantum-mechanical formalism. We demonstrate that spatially localized wavepackets are inherently characterized by a subluminal group velocity and a superluminal phase velocity, whose product equals $c^2$. These velocities are also known as the 'energy' and 'momentum' velocities, introduced by K. Milton and J. Schwinger. We illustrate general conclusions by explicit calculations for Gaussian and higher-order beams and wavepackets, and also highlight subtleties of the quantum-mechanical description based on the 'photon wavefunction'. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_17576 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Subluminal and superluminal velocities of free-space photons Bliokh, Konstantin Y. Quantum Physics Optics We consider rectilinear free-space propagation of electromagnetic wavepackets using electromagnetic field theory, scalar wavepacket propagation, and quantum-mechanical formalism. We demonstrate that spatially localized wavepackets are inherently characterized by a subluminal group velocity and a superluminal phase velocity, whose product equals $c^2$. These velocities are also known as the 'energy' and 'momentum' velocities, introduced by K. Milton and J. Schwinger. We illustrate general conclusions by explicit calculations for Gaussian and higher-order beams and wavepackets, and also highlight subtleties of the quantum-mechanical description based on the 'photon wavefunction'. |
| title | Subluminal and superluminal velocities of free-space photons |
| topic | Quantum Physics Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.17576 |