Light-Matter Interaction and Exciton-Polaritons in Semiconductors

Light corresponds to a transverse electromagnetic radiation field. It is characterized by its electric- \(\varvec{e}\) and magnetic-polarization vectors \(\varvec{h}\). \(\varvec{e}\) and \(\varvec{h}\) are both oscillating in time with frequency \(\omega \) and propagating in space, characterized by the wave-vector \(\varvec{q}\). The fields obey the wave equation and will be described below by harmonic plane waves. The electric- \(\varvec{e}\) and magnetic-polarization vectors \(\varvec{h}\) are special forms of electric field \(\varvec{E}\) and magnetic induction vectors \(\varvec{B}\) whose evolution in space and time is governed by Maxwell’s equations.