Diagrammatic Schemes for Nonlinear Optical Interactions

Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, vol. 56, pp. 657–665

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nonlinear optical interactions are usually understood diagrammatically to sift only those contributions to the dielectric susceptibility that matter most to the signal being measured. Here, we review the main techniques of diagrammatic perturbation theory (i.e., double‐sided Feynman diagrams, Liouville pathways, and Albrecht notation) that make use of the semiclassical approximation. A brief mention of other recent diagrammatic proposals is also made. The limitations of such approaches are discussed in view of a fully quantum‐mechanical treatment of optical interactions. It is then suggested that the limitations of the conventional approaches can be overcome by a field‐type modification of the Albrecht notation that combines the simplicity of the energy‐level representation with the wealth of information provided by more elaborated diagrams (namely, double‐sided Feynman diagrams and Liouville pathways). Rules to replace the Albrecht notation with the matter field representation are given, and instructive examples are illustrated for Raman spectroscopy.

Authors 3

1. Francesco Mazza Aachen Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Amir H. Hosseinnia Aachen Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Michele Marrocco corresponding

   National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento TERIN ENEA Rome Italy

   Dipartimento TERIN, ENEA, Rome, Italy