Continuous monitoring can convert a dissipative channel into a resource for accelerating otherwise slow multiphoton transitions. We consider a three-level atom in a $Λ$ configuration and condition the evolution on the absence of photon emission through an auxiliary monitored decay channel. The resulting no-jump dynamics is governed by a non-Hermitian Rabi-type Hamiltonian. Using Floquet theory and Brillouin--Wigner projection-operator perturbation method, we derive effective two-state descriptions of odd-multiphoton resonances in the semiclassical and quantum Rabi models. The effective population-transfer rate, defined as the inverse of the time required for the first complete transfer between the atomic states, is maximized at an exceptional point, where its enhancement factor approaches $π/2$, corresponding to an approximately $57\%$ increase over the Hermitian value. Numerical results for three- and five-photon resonances closely reproduce the analytical transition times and yield non-negligible postselection probabilities. By contrast, the complete unconditioned dissipative evolution does not exhibit the same population-transfer enhancement. These results demonstrate a speed--success trade-off for measurement-conditioned multiphoton state transfer.
Continuous monitoring can convert a dissipative channel into a resource for accelerating otherwise slow multiphoton transitions. We consider a three-level atom in a Λ configuration and condition the evolution on the absence of photon emission through an auxiliary monitored decay channel. The resulting no-jump dynamics is governed by a non-Hermitian Rabi-type Hamiltonian. Using Floquet theory and Brillouin--Wigner projection-operator perturbation method, we derive effective two-state descriptions of odd-multiphoton resonances in the semiclassical and quantum Rabi models. The effective population-transfer rate, defined as the inverse of the time required for the first complete transfer between the atomic states, is maximized at an exceptional point, where its enhancement factor approaches π/2, corresponding to an approximately 57% increase over the Hermitian value. Numerical results for three- and five-photon resonances closely reproduce the analytical transition times and yield non-negligible postselection probabilities. By contrast, the complete unconditioned dissipative evolution does not exhibit the same population-transfer enhancement. These results demonstrate a speed--success trade-off for measurement-conditioned multiphoton state transfer.
The construction of physical occupation and transition probabilities in non-Hermitian, effective-Hamiltonian models of coupled near-resonant discrete states which decay to a continuum is analyzed. We consider for definiteness the particular physical example of atomic multiphoton ionization. The possibility of finite duration and arbitrary modulation of this interaction, and of the subsequent ionization and/or decay, in such a system allows us to invoke "adiabatic switching" considerations in conventional S-matrix theory. The effective Hamiltonian $\stackrel{^}{H}(t)$ is derived for both stationary and time-dependent Schr\"odinger equations. These derivations yield the same effective $\stackrel{^}{H}(t)$, and further reveal that this operator is associated with discrete-state-projected "incoming" scattering states. The Hermitian conjugate operator ${\stackrel{^}{H}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}(t)$ is similarly shown to be associated with discrete-state "outgoing" scattering states. This shows that effective-Hamiltonian theories are intrinsically S-matrix theories. This fact, in turn, is employed to construct transition amplitudes. The possibility of resonance in the atom-field interaction requires that both the projected incoming states and projected outgoing states be employed in this construction. The projected incoming and outgoing states in the (discrete) bound space are quite conveniently described by effective time-dependent Schr\"odinger equations, supplemented by initial- and final-state boundary conditions. The fact of independent-exponential decay from each mode throughout the history of the interaction, for an arbitrary initial superposition state, in the adiabatic limit, suggests a practical construction for intermediate-time bound-state probabilities. This construction permits the formal definition of individual-state probabilities, which satisfy a generalized adiabatic theorem, and leads to the satisfying result that the total bound-state probability at all intermediate times is the sum of complex-mode probabilities. In marked contrast to the conventional norm-of-state definition of nonionization probability, this sum does not have oscillations at intermediate times, in the limit of adiabatic modulation of the interaction. Superposition-state probabilities, however, exhibit oscillations at intermediate times. The resulting non-Hermitian quantum dynamics is especially suited, and even essential, for an accurate description of near-resonance ionization. Precise matching of the time-dependent $\stackrel{^}{H}(t)$ and ${\stackrel{^}{H}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}(t)$ with bases of their instantaneous eigenstates is required by approximate unitarity in the discrete decaying space, for a consistent theory. We illustrate these considerations in a general way in the context of resolvent-operator techniques. The implementation of the theory in both its time-dependent and stationary-state formulations is presented in an Appendix, for the completely general two-state non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. The results of these formulations are found to agree, in the adiabatic limit, to all orders in the non-Hermitian interaction. The utility of direct diagonalization of the effective $\stackrel{^}{H}(t)$, advocated by Armstrong and Baker, is transparent. The overall context of interpretation of their earlier work is, however, significantly altered. Similar considerations apply for nonswitchable interactions, such as for K-meson decays. These results represent a practical generalization of quantum mechanics to non-Hermitian systems. The utility, and the necessity, of such a generalization has considerable theoretical interest, and direct experimental implications.
The conventional time-dependent perturbation theory in quantum mechanics is established within the framework of Hermitian Hamiltonians, applicable for describing quantum transitions and associated energy level responses in such systems. However, this theory has fundamental limitations when applied to non-Hermitian systems. Consequently, researchers have systematically extended time-dependent perturbation theory to non-Hermitian systems, establishing a corresponding mature framework. Building on this foundation, this study extends the theory to investigate the transition dynamics induced by non-Hermitian interactions in non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems. We employ a biorthogonal basis representation for a three-level non-Hermitian system. This work investigates a system comprising an unperturbed static non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and a periodically driven time-dependent perturbation Hamiltonian. Taking the three-level system as a concrete example, we combine analytical methods with numerical simulations to solve and analyze its dynamical evolution equations. These complementary approaches reveal that when system parameters complete a full cycle around an exceptional point, the transitional behavior exhibits specific evolutionary patterns. In this system, quantum transition probabilities exhibit significant asymmetry and non-conservation that depend on the initial and final states, revealing inherent directional characteristics in the dynamical process. Furthermore, for a three-level, periodically driven non-Hermitian system with time-dependent perturbations, this asymmetry is even more pronounced, manifesting as a distinct disparity between forward and reverse transition probabilities. The periodic driving actively amplifies the asymmetry in the transition process. By designing the perturbation spectrum, selective manipulation of specific quantum states can be achieved. Moreover, transition probabilities can be significantly enhanced under resonance conditions, while non-Hermiticity further breaks the system's inherent symmetry, leading to substantial amplification of transitions in a single direction. By precisely tuning the drive frequency, interactions between specific coupling channels can be selectively enhanced or suppressed. The amplification of channel asymmetry by non-Hermitian properties provides a novel mechanism for directional control of quantum states and opens new pathways for realizing related quantum technologies.
Coherent population transfer in quantum systems is of fundamental importance in many fields such as atomic and molecular collision dynamics, and information processing for qubit systems. Stimulated Raman nonadiabatic passage technique, when implemented in an externally driven three-level system, provides an efficient approach for realizing accelerated population transfer while maintaining robust quantum coherence, with no need of rotating wave approximation. However, previous protocols employ multiple pulses and imply that Rabi frequencies have a few oscillations during dynamical evolution. In this work, under the condition of two-photon resonance, we use a gauge transformation method to inversely design a Λ-configuration three-level system that can be solved exactly. By using SU(3) transformation, we establish the relationship between Schrödinger representation and gauge representation, where the effective Hamiltonian is an Abelian operator. Subsequently, we construct the desired Hamiltonian and further investigate its dynamic behavior. The result shows that by imposing appropriate boundary conditions on the control parameters, high-fidelity population transfer can be achieved in ideal evolution. In addition, for the practical case with pulse truncation and intermediate state decay, the fidelities of specific models can reach about 99.996% and 99.983%, respectively. Compared with other existing nonadiabatic quantum control schemes, the present scheme has the distinctive advantages. We achieve the required quantum control by applying only a few sets of Stokes and pump pulses without introducing any additional microwave field. This method does not exhibit Rabi oscillations in the dynamic process, nor does it produce singularities in the pulse itself.
The many-mode Floquet theory (MMFT) recently developed by authors is extended to incorporate the irreversible damping mechanisms for the nonperturbative treatment of the dynamical evolution of dissipative three-level systems at two-photon or multiphoton coherent resonance trapping conditions induced by two strong linearly polarized monochromatic fields. It has been recently shown by several workers that under the rotating-wave approximation (RWA), population may be permanently trapped in the three-level system if the coherent monochromatic fields are exactly two-photon resonant with the initial and final states, decoupled from the intermediate decaying level. In practice, the inclusion of the non-RWA terms necessarily modifies the resonant trapping conditions and behavior. In this paper we extend the generalized Van Vleck (GVV) nearly degenerate perturbation theory to an analytical treatment of the non-Hermitian two-mode Floquet Hamiltonian. This reduces the infinite-dimensional time-independent non-Hermitian Floquet Hamiltonian to a 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3 effective Hamiltonian, from which essential properties of the coherent population-trapping behavior as well as the dynamical evolution of the dissipative SU(3) coherence vector S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(t) can be readily obtained and expressed in terms of only three complex quasienergy eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The MMFT-GVV studies show that the RWA two-photon resonant trapping condition is substantially modified by the effects of non-RWA terms, and that the system can be ``quasitrapped'' for only a finite amount of time characterized by a small imaginary energy (width) associated with a coherent superposition state of the initial and final levels. Furthermore, it is found that the initially eight-dimensional coherence vector S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(t) evolves predominantly to a one-dimensional scalar at the two-photon or multiphoton resonant quasitrapping conditions. Detailed results and pictorial representations of the population trapping and SU(3) dissipative dynamical evolution are presented.
A unified quantum-statistical framework is proposed for open three-level atomic systems when two lower-energy states are coupled to a single upper state. We suggest a non-Hermitian generalization of the closed model’s Hamiltonian by the analytical continuation of real-valued parameters related to the energies into a complex domain, as well as by considering some terms previously neglected by the procedure of Hermitian conjugation. We show that such systems can have two types of density operator’s evolution, depending on whether they are expected to be sustainable, or in a process of irreversible decay. This approach not only explains previously heuristically introduced terms in equations of motion for the density matrix but also suggests new terms which predict new dissipative effects. We then consider a special case, namely the evolution of pure states described by a generalized Schrödinger equation, which turns out to be nonlinear with respect to the atomic wavefunctions. As a final step toward unification, in addition to the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian generalization, we also include Markovian quantum jumps by adding the Lindblad dissipator. The resulting equations not only expand the range of applicability of open three-level models, but also suggest that dissipative phenomena in quantum-optical systems in vivo are more diverse and significant than previously believed.
We compare the semiclassical and quantum predictions for the unitary dynamics of a two-level atom interacting with a single-mode electromagnetic field under parametric modulation of the atomic parameters in the regime of multiphoton atom–field resonances. We derive approximate analytic solutions for the semiclassical Rabi model when the atomic transition frequency and the atom–field coupling strength undergo harmonic external modulations. These solutions are compared to the predictions of the quantum Rabi model, which we solve numerically for an initial coherent state with a large average photon number (on the order of 104), in the regime of three-photon resonance. We show that, for short enough times and sufficiently intense coherent states, the semiclassical dynamics agrees quite well with the quantum dynamics, although it inevitably fails at longer times due to the absence of collapse–revival behavior. Furthermore, we describe how the field state evolves throughout the interaction, presenting numerical results for the average photon number, entropies (related to atom–field entanglement), and other quantities characterizing the photon number statistics of the electromagnetic field.