Maxwell Systems

Since version 10, Octopus can also be used to calculate Maxwell systems, i.e. propagating the electro-magnetic fields.

Using the Riemann-Silberstein representation for Maxwell’s equations, the corresponding time-evolution of Maxwell fields is implemented as a quantum-mechanical-like propagation in Octopus. Currently, different types of classical linear media, as well as external current densities, incoming plane wave boundaries and absorbing boundaries can be used. In future versions, this will be coupled to matter systems, to go beyond the usual forward-only coupling between the fields, electrons and nuclei.

For more details, please refer to the following publication:

Light-matter interactions within the Ehrenfest–Maxwell–Pauli–Kohn–Sham framework: fundamentals, implementation, and nano-optical applications. René Jestädt, Michael Ruggenthaler, Micael J. T. Oliveira, Angel Rubio, and Heiko Appel https://doi.org/10.1080/00018732.2019.1695875