Coherent radiation from neutral molecules moving above a grating

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Feb 4;88(5):053602. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.053602. Epub 2002 Jan 22.

Abstract

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.