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arXiv:2403.02402 · Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Tutorial on nonperturbative cavity quantum electrodynamics: is the Jaynes–Cummings model still relevant?

Daniele De Bernardis, Alberto Mercurio, Simone De Liberato

Published Jun 5, 2024• 21 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In this tutorial review, we briefly discuss the role that the Jaynes–Cummings model occupies in present-day research in cavity quantum electrodynamics with a particular focus on the so-called ultrastrong-coupling regime. We start by critically analyzing the various approximations required to distill such a simple model from standard quantum electrodynamics. We then discuss how many of those approximations can be, and often have been, broken in recent experiments. The consequence of these failures has been the need to abandon the Jaynes–Cummings model for more complex models. In this, the quantum Rabi model has the most prominent role, and we will rapidly survey its rich and peculiar phenomenology. We conclude the paper by showing how the Jaynes–Cummings model still plays a crucial role even in nonperturbative light–matter coupling regimes.

DOI
10.1364/josab.522786

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In this tutorial review, we briefly discuss the role that the Jaynes–Cummings model occupies in present-day research in cavity quantum electrodynamics with a particular focus on the so-called ultrastrong-coupling regime. We start by critically analyzing the various approximations required to distill such a simple model from standard quantum electrodynamics. We then discuss how many of those approximations can be, and often have been, broken in recent experiments. The consequence of these failures has been the need to abandon the Jaynes–Cummings model for more complex models. In this, the quantum Rabi model has the most prominent role, and we will rapidly survey its rich and peculiar phenomenology. We conclude the paper by showing how the Jaynes–Cummings model still plays a crucial role even in nonperturbative light–matter coupling regimes.
Ultrastrong-coupling between an effective two-level system and radiation offers immense potential for advancing both fundamental and applied quantum electrodynamics (QED). Such regimes cannot be treated using the rotating-wave approximation, which applied to the quantum Rabi model yields the apparently less fundamental Jaynes-Cummings model. However, the implications of gauge-freedom for ultrastrong-coupling QED are yet to be recognised. Here we show that when truncating the material system to only two levels, each gauge gives a different effective description whose predictions can vary significantly for ultrastrong-coupling. Rabi models are obtained through specific gauge choices, but so too is a Jaynes-Cummings model without needing the rotating-wave approximation. Analysing a circuit QED setup, we find that this Jaynes-Cummings model is not only valid well beyond the rotating-wave approximation, it is often more accurate than the Rabi model. Among the many implications of this finding is that the system's ground state is not necessarily highly entangled, which is usually considered a hallmark of ultrastrong-coupling light-matter physics.
We revisit the mathematical formulation of the famous Jaynes–Cummings–Paul Hamiltonian, which describes the interaction of a two-level atom with a single mode of an electromagnetic cavity reservoir. We rigorously show that under the condition of ultrastrong coupling between the atom and cavity in which the transition frequency is comparable to the coupling frequency, the bosonic field operators undergo non-sinusoidal time variations. As a result, the well-known solutions to the Jaynes–Cummings–Paul model are no longer valid, even when the rotating wave approximation is not used. We show how a correct mathematical solution could be found instead.
Cavity quantum-electrodynamics (QED) is a rich area of optical physics, where extreme light–matter coupling can give rise to ultrastrong coupling. The ultrastrong coupling regime presents some fascinating uniquely quantum mechanical effects, such as ground state virtual photons and vacuum squeezing. Focusing on the widely adopted Hopfield model with cavity dissipation, we show how the linear spectrum of an ultrastrong coupled cavity and a dipole can be described either classically or quantum mechanically, but only when the quantum model includes (i) corrections to maintain gauge invariance, and (ii) a specific type of cavity bath coupling, which has so far not been identified. We also show the impact of this bath model on the quantum Rabi model, which has no classical analog in ultrastrong coupling. These results can be used to guide emerging experiments and significantly impact current models and interpretations of ultrastrong coupling between light and matter.
Ultrastrong-coupling between two-level systems and radiation is important for both fundamental and applied quantum electrodynamics (QED). Such regimes are identified by the breakdown of the rotating-wave approximation, which applied to the quantum Rabi model (QRM) yields the apparently less fundamental Jaynes-Cummings model (JCM). We show that when truncating the material system to two levels, each gauge gives a different description whose predictions vary significantly for ultrastrong-coupling. QRMs are obtained through specific gauge choices, but so too is a JCM without needing the rotating-wave approximation. Analysing a circuit QED setup, we find that this JCM provides more accurate predictions than the QRM for the ground state, and often for the first excited state as well. Thus, Jaynes-Cummings physics is not restricted to light-matter coupling below the ultrastrong limit. Among the many implications is that the system's ground state is not necessarily highly entangled, which is usually considered a hallmark of ultrastrong-coupling.
Abstract Ultrastrong-coupling between two-level systems and radiation is important for both fundamental and applied quantum electrodynamics (QED). Such regimes are identified by the breakdown of the rotating-wave approximation, which applied to the quantum Rabi model (QRM) yields the apparently less fundamental Jaynes-Cummings model (JCM). We show that when truncating the material system to two levels, each gauge gives a different description whose predictions vary significantly for ultrastrong-coupling. QRMs are obtained through specific gauge choices, but so too is a JCM without needing the rotating-wave approximation. Analysing a circuit QED setup, we find that this JCM provides more accurate predictions than the QRM for the ground state, and often for the first excited state as well. Thus, Jaynes-Cummings physics is not restricted to light-matter coupling below the ultrastrong limit. Among the many implications is that the system’s ground state is not necessarily highly entangled, which is usually considered a hallmark of ultrastrong-coupling.
Abstract This article reviews theoretical methods developed in the last decade to understand cavity quantum electrodynamics in the ultrastrong‐coupling regime, where the strength of the light–matter interaction becomes comparable to the photon frequency. Along with profound modifications of fundamental quantum optical effects giving rise to a rich phenomenology, this regime introduces significant theoretical challenges. One of the most important is the break‐down of the rotating‐wave approximation which neglects all non‐resonant terms in light–matter interaction Hamiltonians. Consequently, a large part of the quantum optical theoretical framework has to be revisited in order to accurately account for all interaction terms in this regime. In this article, a broad overview of the recent progress is given, ranging from analytical estimates of ground‐state properties to proper derivations of master equations and computation of photodetection signals. For each aspect of the theory, the basic principles of the methods are illustrated on paradigmatic models such as quantum Rabi and spin‐boson models. The validity of effective Hamiltonians for the different experimental platforms is discussed in the last part of the article, addressing recent debates on fundamental issues related to gauge invariance in the ultrastrong‐coupling regime.