Electromagnetism at finite temperature: a density operator approach

Abstract

In order to analyse classical electromagnetism in a medium at finite temperature we introduce `an optical density operator', and reformulate Maxwell's equations with the operator, starting from the Dirac-equation-like formulation of electromagnetism. We find the thermal state of electromagnetic field in the medium from the `optical Dirac Hamiltonian', which is the effective Hamiltonian in the Dirac-like formulation. In the thermal state, the two transverse modes (left-handed and right-handed circular polarisation) of electromagnetic fields exist at the same ratio. We also analyse the asymptotics of the thermal state. At the low temperature limit, there is correlation between the electric field and the magnetic field. This means that there exists an electromagnetic wave at the thermal equilibrium, and this recovers Maxwell's classical electromagnetism. In contrast, the correlation vanishes at the high temperature limit. This means that electromagnetic waves are unsustainable and only independent electric fields and magnetic fields exist at the high temperature limit.