Nonperturbative analysis of spontaneous emission in one dimensional special photonic crystals

The retarded spontaneous emission (SpE)process of a two-level atom embedded in realistic one dimensional photonic crystals (1DPC) is investigated with the quantum nonperturbative theory. The atomic transient decay is divided into two processes: the first comes from the natural decay to free space and the second is induced by the reflected field emitted from the atom itself. Due to the multi-reflection in the multi-layer structure, the correct delay time of the induced decay process is hard to calculate in the usual ways. However with the special but practical 1DPC provided, we give the analytic result of the atomic dynamic decay in 1DPC. Our result gives a clear picture to show the process which the atom feels the surrounding. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.