POLARITONS IN HIGH REFLECTIVITY MICROCAVITIES - SEMICLASSICAL AND FULL QUANTUM TREATMENT OF OPTICAL-PROPERTIES

We present a comparison between the semiclassical and the full quantum descriptions of optical properties of quantum wells (QWs) in semicond uctor microcavities. The semiclassical theory, which is based on a non local treatment of the optical response of a single QW, allows one to calculate reflectivity, transmission, and absorption curves. The quant um theory, which is developed in a quasi-mode approach for the couplin g of-the closed-cavity modes to the outside radiation continuum, provi des a description of photoluminescence processes. The frequency-depend ence of the phase of the mirror reflection coefficient has an importan t role in both theories: Numerical results show that the mixed mode (p olariton) dispersion and the Rabi splitting calculated from semiclassi cal and quantum theories coincide rather well.