Coherent radiation from neutral molecules moving above a grating. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We predict and study the effect of parametric self-induced excitation of a molecule moving above the dielectric or conducting medium with periodic grating. In this case the radiation reaction force modulates the molecular transition frequency which results in a parametric instability of dipole oscillations even from the level of quantum or thermal fluctuations. The present mechanism of instability of electrically neutral molecules is different from that of the well-known Smith-Purcell and transition radiation in which a moving charge and its oscillating image create an oscillating dipole. We show that parametrically excited molecular bunches can produce an easily detectable coherent radiation flux of up to a microwatt.

published proceedings

  • Phys Rev Lett

author list (cited authors)

  • Belyanin, A., Kocharovsky, V., Kocharovsky, V., & Capasso, F.

citation count

  • 7

complete list of authors

  • Belyanin, Alexey||Kocharovsky, Vitaly||Kocharovsky, Vladimir||Capasso, Federico

publication date

  • February 2002