Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2605.23528

Vacuum-Triggered Instability in Paired Superradiance

Zhan Bai, Ningqiang Song, Min Chen, Xiangyan An, Baifei Shen, Liangliang Ji, Ruxin Li

Published May 22, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Paired superradiance (PSR) is a macro-coherent two-photon process capable of very large gain, making it promising for detecting ultra-weak signals induced by neutrinos or dark matter. A major goal has been to increase the system volume $V$ and density $n$, since the signal intensity scales as $(nV)^2$. We recast finite PSR as a parametric amplifier driven by the electromagnetic vacuum. The usual zero-field semiclassical initial condition is replaced by vacuum inputs fixed by the quantum two-point function. Combining this formulation with Maxwell--Bloch evolution and finite-length stability analysis, we find that PSR produces an irreducible vacuum background that can develop into macroscopic bursts once the gain-length product exceeds \(ΓL=π/2\) for a sufficient coherence time. These results, together with a closed-form formula for estimating the vacuum-seeded photon yield, establish a previously overlooked constraint for high-gain PSR, with direct implications for proposed neutrino and dark-matter studies.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2605.23528

Related papers

Dynamics of two-photon paired superradiance

M. Yoshimura, N. Sasao, Minoru Tanaka

We develop for dipole-forbidden transition a dynamical theory of two-photon paired superradiance (PSR). This is a cooperative process characterized by two photons emitted back to back with equal energies. By irradiating the trigger laser from two target ends, with its frequency tuned at the half energy between two levels, a macroscopically coherent state of medium and fields dynamically emerges as time evolves, and a large signal of amplified output occurs with a time delay. The basic semiclassical equations in $1+1$ space-time dimensions are derived for the field-plus-medium system to describe the space-time evolution of the entire system and are numerically solved to demonstrate the existence of both explosive and weak PSR phenomena in the presence of relaxation terms. The explosive PSR event terminates accompanying a sudden release of most of the energy stored in the target. Our numerical simulations are performed using the vibrational transition ${X}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}v=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ of a para-H${}_{2}$ molecule and taking many different excited atom number densities and different initial coherences between the metastable and the ground states. In an example with a number density close to $O({10}^{21}$ cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) and a high initial coherence, the explosive event terminates several nanoseconds after the trigger irradiation, when the phase relaxation time larger than $O$(10 ns) is taken. After PSR events the system is expected to follow a steady-state solution which is obtained by analytic means and is made of many objects of field condensates endowed with a topological stability.

arXiv:1203.5394•Physical Review A•Jul 9, 2012•39 citations

Light Propagation and Paired Superradiance in Coherent Medium

M. Yoshimura

The problem of light propagation of frequency corresponding to half of the energy difference between a metastable excited state and the ground state of atoms is examined, and solved for coherent medium by analytic means. We demonstrate that the non-linear system of Maxwell-Bloch equation for the effective model of the Λ -type three levels is integrable in the mathematical sense. Analytic solutions thus obtained describe pulse splitting accompanied by compression, indicating a kind of non-linear instability of propagating pulses. The instability is eventually terminated by coherent two photon emission (called paired superradiance or PSR in short). These results are displayed by numerical outputs for visual understanding, as well. It is further shown that the integrable system allows a new class of soliton solutions. Solitons, implying the phenomenon of self-induced transparancy at non-resonant frequencies, are stable against PSR. One of our goals of the present work is construction of a calculable theoretical framework for PSR rates associated with a trigger pulse propagation, which is achieved by combining analytic results with perturbative methods. PSR photon spectrum and its rate ∝(target number density) 2 , along with their time structure, are clarified this way. These results may open a new path for interesting technological applications such as quantum entanglement and for solving the remaining problems of the still mysterious neutrino. Some basic strategy for realistic experiments of PSR detection and soliton production is also outlined.

arXiv:1012.1061•Progress of Theoretical Physics•Jan 1, 2011•5 citations

Microscopic Origin of Superradiant Biphoton Emission in Atomic Ensembles

Zi-Yu Liu, Jiun-Shiuan Shiu, Wei-Lin Chen +1 more

Superradiant biphoton emission from atomic ensembles provides a powerful route to generating highly correlated quantum light, yet its microscopic physical origin has remained incompletely understood. In particular, it is often unclear how collective enhancement, spontaneous emission, and vacuum fluctuations jointly give rise to both paired biphoton generation and unavoidable unpaired background within a single, self-consistent framework. Here we present a fully quantum microscopic theory within a unified Heisenberg--Langevin--Maxwell framework that explicitly incorporates dissipation and quantum noise, thereby revealing the microscopic origin of superradiant biphoton emission in atomic ensembles. The theory provides a consistent description of parametric gain and unpaired noise within the same open-quantum-system framework and applies to both Doppler-free cold atomic ensembles and Doppler-broadened warm vapors. In the high-optical-depth regime, the coupled propagation equations admit analytical solutions, under which the biphoton dynamics rigorously reduce to an effective collective two-level emission process. Within this limit, the biphoton correlation time and spectral properties are shown to obey closed-form scaling relations governed by optical depth and excited-state decoherence. Our results establish a unified microscopic picture of superradiant biphoton generation and clarify the fundamental role of vacuum fluctuations and dissipation in setting the brightness, pairing efficiency, and temporal structure of atomic biphoton sources, with direct relevance to quantum networking and atomic quantum interfaces.

quant-pharXiv:2602.11438•Feb 13, 2026•1 citation

Parametric Amplification of Vacuum Fluctuations in a Spinor Condensate

Carsten Klempt, O. Topic, Grebremedh Gebreyesus +6 more

Parametric amplification of vacuum fluctuations is crucial in modern quantum optics, enabling the creation of squeezing and entanglement. We demonstrate the parametric amplification of vacuum fluctuations for matter waves using a spinor F=2 87Rb condensate. Interatomic interactions lead to correlated pair creation in the mF=±1 states from an initial mF=0 condensate, which acts as a vacuum for mF≠0. Although this pair creation from a pure mF=0 condensate is ideally triggered by vacuum fluctuations, unavoidable spurious initial mF=±1 atoms induce a classical seed which may become the dominant triggering mechanism. We show that pair creation is insensitive to a classical seed for sufficiently large magnetic fields, demonstrating the dominant role of vacuum fluctuations. The presented system thus provides a direct path towards the generation of nonclassical states of matter.

arXiv:0907.3413•Physical Review Letters•May 12, 2010•85 citations

Superradiant interactions for relic detection with entangled nuclear spins

M.D. Galanis, Onur Hosten, Asimina Arvanitaki +1 more

We recently showed that macroscopic nuclear spin ensembles prepared in coherent spin states can dramatically enhance the interaction rates of weakly interacting cosmic relics-such as dark matter and the cosmic neutrino background-through collective quantum effects analogous to Dicke superradiance, where the de-excitation and excitation rates scale as the square of the number of spins, $N^2$. We thus coined these processes superradiant interactions. In this paper, we propose a protocol to realize this enhancement and boost the discovery potential for such relics. We show how concepts from quantum optics can be adapted to nuclear spins coupled to superconducting circuits, enabling high-sensitivity systems. The spins are first initialized into a coherent spin state via a $π/2$ Rabi pulse from the ground state. When the circuit is sufficiently detuned from resonance, the spin-circuit interaction implements a squeezing Hamiltonian. Because squeezing must outpace spin relaxation and dephasing, the protocol favors macroscopic ensembles and high-quality superconducting circuits. During this squeezing phase, the standard quantum variance is reduced by up to 4.8 orders of magnitude-equivalent to 48 dB of squeezing-for circuits with quality factors $Q \sim 10^8$-$10^9$. The signal imprinted on the spins during the squeezing protocol can be magnified by further utilizing the squeezing interactions, easing the requirement for shot-noise-limited readout. This protocol has the potential to significantly accelerate axion and dark photon dark matter searches and extend the reach of existing axion experiments to probe QCD axion-nuclear spin couplings. More broadly, it paves the way for detecting coherent inelastic interactions from other cosmic relics-most notably the cosmic neutrino background-and establishes nuclear-spin-based systems as a new class of quantum, ultra-low-threshold detectors.

arXiv:2508.20520•Physical Review A•Apr 27, 2026•0 citations

Modelling superradiant amplification of Casimir photons in very low dissipation cavities

J. H. Brownell, W J Kim, Roberto Onofrio

Recent advances in nanotechnology and atomic physics may allow for a demonstration of the dynamical Casimir effect. An array of film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) coherently driven at twice the resonant frequency of a high-quality electromagnetic cavity can generate a stationary state of Casimir photons. These are detected using an alkali atom beam prepared in an inverted population of hyperfine states, with an induced superradiant burst producing a detectable radio-frequency signal. We describe here the results of the simulations of the dynamics of superradiance and superfluorescence, with the aim to optimize the parameters for the detectability of Casimir photons. When the superradiant lifetime is shorter than the dissipation time, we find superradiant evolution to be similar in character but dramatically slower than in the usual lossy case.

arXiv:0810.3272•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Apr 9, 2008•16 citations
Paired superradiance (PSR) is a macro-coherent two-photon process capable of very large gain, making it promising for detecting ultra-weak signals induced by neutrinos or dark matter. A major goal has been to increase the system volume VVV and density nnn, since the signal intensity scales as (nV)2(nV)^2(nV)2. We recast finite PSR as a parametric amplifier driven by the electromagnetic vacuum. The usual zero-field semiclassical initial condition is replaced by vacuum inputs fixed by the quantum two-point function. Combining this formulation with Maxwell--Bloch evolution and finite-length stability analysis, we find that PSR produces an irreducible vacuum background that can develop into macroscopic bursts once the gain-length product exceeds (ΓL=π/2) for a sufficient coherence time. These results, together with a closed-form formula for estimating the vacuum-seeded photon yield, establish a previously overlooked constraint for high-gain PSR, with direct implications for proposed neutrino and dark-matter studies.
We develop for dipole-forbidden transition a dynamical theory of two-photon paired superradiance (PSR). This is a cooperative process characterized by two photons emitted back to back with equal energies. By irradiating the trigger laser from two target ends, with its frequency tuned at the half energy between two levels, a macroscopically coherent state of medium and fields dynamically emerges as time evolves, and a large signal of amplified output occurs with a time delay. The basic semiclassical equations in 1+11+11+1 space-time dimensions are derived for the field-plus-medium system to describe the space-time evolution of the entire system and are numerically solved to demonstrate the existence of both explosive and weak PSR phenomena in the presence of relaxation terms. The explosive PSR event terminates accompanying a sudden release of most of the energy stored in the target. Our numerical simulations are performed using the vibrational transition ${X}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}v=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ of a para-H2{}_{2}2​ molecule and taking many different excited atom number densities and different initial coherences between the metastable and the ground states. In an example with a number density close to O(1021O({10}^{21}O(1021 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) and a high initial coherence, the explosive event terminates several nanoseconds after the trigger irradiation, when the phase relaxation time larger than OOO(10 ns) is taken. After PSR events the system is expected to follow a steady-state solution which is obtained by analytic means and is made of many objects of field condensates endowed with a topological stability.
The problem of light propagation of frequency corresponding to half of the energy difference between a metastable excited state and the ground state of atoms is examined, and solved for coherent medium by analytic means. We demonstrate that the non-linear system of Maxwell-Bloch equation for the effective model of the Λ -type three levels is integrable in the mathematical sense. Analytic solutions thus obtained describe pulse splitting accompanied by compression, indicating a kind of non-linear instability of propagating pulses. The instability is eventually terminated by coherent two photon emission (called paired superradiance or PSR in short). These results are displayed by numerical outputs for visual understanding, as well. It is further shown that the integrable system allows a new class of soliton solutions. Solitons, implying the phenomenon of self-induced transparancy at non-resonant frequencies, are stable against PSR. One of our goals of the present work is construction of a calculable theoretical framework for PSR rates associated with a trigger pulse propagation, which is achieved by combining analytic results with perturbative methods. PSR photon spectrum and its rate ∝(target number density) 2 , along with their time structure, are clarified this way. These results may open a new path for interesting technological applications such as quantum entanglement and for solving the remaining problems of the still mysterious neutrino. Some basic strategy for realistic experiments of PSR detection and soliton production is also outlined.
Superradiant biphoton emission from atomic ensembles provides a powerful route to generating highly correlated quantum light, yet its microscopic physical origin has remained incompletely understood. In particular, it is often unclear how collective enhancement, spontaneous emission, and vacuum fluctuations jointly give rise to both paired biphoton generation and unavoidable unpaired background within a single, self-consistent framework. Here we present a fully quantum microscopic theory within a unified Heisenberg--Langevin--Maxwell framework that explicitly incorporates dissipation and quantum noise, thereby revealing the microscopic origin of superradiant biphoton emission in atomic ensembles. The theory provides a consistent description of parametric gain and unpaired noise within the same open-quantum-system framework and applies to both Doppler-free cold atomic ensembles and Doppler-broadened warm vapors. In the high-optical-depth regime, the coupled propagation equations admit analytical solutions, under which the biphoton dynamics rigorously reduce to an effective collective two-level emission process. Within this limit, the biphoton correlation time and spectral properties are shown to obey closed-form scaling relations governed by optical depth and excited-state decoherence. Our results establish a unified microscopic picture of superradiant biphoton generation and clarify the fundamental role of vacuum fluctuations and dissipation in setting the brightness, pairing efficiency, and temporal structure of atomic biphoton sources, with direct relevance to quantum networking and atomic quantum interfaces.
Parametric amplification of vacuum fluctuations is crucial in modern quantum optics, enabling the creation of squeezing and entanglement. We demonstrate the parametric amplification of vacuum fluctuations for matter waves using a spinor F=2 87Rb condensate. Interatomic interactions lead to correlated pair creation in the mF=±1 states from an initial mF=0 condensate, which acts as a vacuum for mF≠0. Although this pair creation from a pure mF=0 condensate is ideally triggered by vacuum fluctuations, unavoidable spurious initial mF=±1 atoms induce a classical seed which may become the dominant triggering mechanism. We show that pair creation is insensitive to a classical seed for sufficiently large magnetic fields, demonstrating the dominant role of vacuum fluctuations. The presented system thus provides a direct path towards the generation of nonclassical states of matter.
We recently showed that macroscopic nuclear spin ensembles prepared in coherent spin states can dramatically enhance the interaction rates of weakly interacting cosmic relics-such as dark matter and the cosmic neutrino background-through collective quantum effects analogous to Dicke superradiance, where the de-excitation and excitation rates scale as the square of the number of spins, N2N^2N2. We thus coined these processes superradiant interactions. In this paper, we propose a protocol to realize this enhancement and boost the discovery potential for such relics. We show how concepts from quantum optics can be adapted to nuclear spins coupled to superconducting circuits, enabling high-sensitivity systems. The spins are first initialized into a coherent spin state via a π/2π/2π/2 Rabi pulse from the ground state. When the circuit is sufficiently detuned from resonance, the spin-circuit interaction implements a squeezing Hamiltonian. Because squeezing must outpace spin relaxation and dephasing, the protocol favors macroscopic ensembles and high-quality superconducting circuits. During this squeezing phase, the standard quantum variance is reduced by up to 4.8 orders of magnitude-equivalent to 48 dB of squeezing-for circuits with quality factors Q∼108Q \sim 10^8Q∼108-10910^9109. The signal imprinted on the spins during the squeezing protocol can be magnified by further utilizing the squeezing interactions, easing the requirement for shot-noise-limited readout. This protocol has the potential to significantly accelerate axion and dark photon dark matter searches and extend the reach of existing axion experiments to probe QCD axion-nuclear spin couplings. More broadly, it paves the way for detecting coherent inelastic interactions from other cosmic relics-most notably the cosmic neutrino background-and establishes nuclear-spin-based systems as a new class of quantum, ultra-low-threshold detectors.
Recent advances in nanotechnology and atomic physics may allow for a demonstration of the dynamical Casimir effect. An array of film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) coherently driven at twice the resonant frequency of a high-quality electromagnetic cavity can generate a stationary state of Casimir photons. These are detected using an alkali atom beam prepared in an inverted population of hyperfine states, with an induced superradiant burst producing a detectable radio-frequency signal. We describe here the results of the simulations of the dynamics of superradiance and superfluorescence, with the aim to optimize the parameters for the detectability of Casimir photons. When the superradiant lifetime is shorter than the dissipation time, we find superradiant evolution to be similar in character but dramatically slower than in the usual lossy case.