Abstract

The quantum electrodynamics of atoms and molecules interacting with photons in a class of strongly scattering dielectric materials are of recent interest.¹ For an isolated atom with the transition frequency in the photonic band gap spontaneous emission is inhibited. When a collection of identical impurity atoms is placed, the localized photon can hop to the unexcited atom by the resonance energy transfer. It is suggested that the energy transfer will result in new types of quantum optical phenomena.² Here we present a preliminary analysis of molecular interactions in colloidal suspensions of dyed-polystyrene spheres.

© 1995 IEEE