Coherent radiation from neutral molecules moving above a grating.
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.
Belyanin
Alexey
A
Physics Department and Institute for Quantum Studies, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA. belyanin@atlantic.tamu.edu
Kocharovsky
Vitaly
V
Kocharovsky
Vladimir
V
Capasso
Federico
F