The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model
"The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model" is a science fiction short story by Charlie Jane Anders. It was first published in the online magazine Tor.com August 11, 2010.
Purcell effect
One way of seeing why this enhancement arises is by using cavity quantum electrodynamics. Fermi's golden rule dictates that the transition rate for the atom-vacuum (or atom-cavity) system is proportional to the density of final states. In a cavity at resonance, the "density" of final states is enhanced (though the number of final states may not be). The Purcell factor is then just the ratio of the cavity