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

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics

Formalism of angular momentum for an assembly of two-level systems

H G Venkatesh, N R Roy

Published Apr 1, 1971• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The problem of interaction of radiation with a single atom having an isolated pair of energy levels has been solved analytically using the formalism of a spin- 1 / 2 particle, and the T transformation in the interaction picture. This transformation is equivalent to going over to a rotating coordinate system in spin space. The case of the electric dipole transition Delta m=+or-1 is presented. The spin- 1 / 2 formalism is extended to an assembly of atoms. By taking the product of the T operators for single atoms, the T operator for the gas as a whole is obtained. A general expression for the density operator describing the state of the gas at any time t is obtained from density operators for individual atoms. The correlated emission from the gas can be obtained by the unitary transformation of the initial density matrix by the macroscopic T operator.

DOI
10.1088/0022-3700/4/4/002

Related papers

Polarization effects in radiation interaction with multilevel quantum systems

Alexander A. Apolonski, K. A. Nasyrov, Anatolii M. Shalagin

In recent years interest has significantly quickened in investigation of nonlinear optical and spectroscopic phenomena in such unique objects as Rydberg atoms (the atoms in the energy states near the ionization limit) and van der Waals complexes (dimers). These objects are characterized, in particular, by that their energy states are strongly degenerate due to a large value of angular (rotational) momentum. Here, the problem arises of adequate theoretical description of experimental results, especially when polarization peculiarities of nonlinear radiation processes are considered. The problem is caused by the existence of a huge number of quantum magnetic sublevels of energy states, which are, in the general case, coherently coupled to each other and take part in the radiation processes. Figure 1 gives a vivid presentation of the problem arising even in such a seemingly simple case when one need describe the radiation transitions caused by a strong monochromatic field between two energy levels with large values of the angular momentum J. If the field polarization is arbitrary, the whole set of the magnetic sublevels turn out to be coupled by radiative transitions. Formally, the problem becomes essentially multilevel. In this case not only the hope fades of solving it analytically using the traditional quantum-mechanical approach, but the problems of numerical solution grow abruptly with increasing quantum number J as well. On the other hand, as is often the case, every cloud has a silver lining. With large J we approach the situation when the rotational motion of particles can be described classically. It turns out that the transition from the quantum description of orientation states of the angular momentum to the classical one simplifies the problem radically: it reduces to the problem of radiation processes in the simplest model of nondegenerate states. In this case the rotational motion manifests itself in a dependence of the density matrix elements on orientation angles of the angular momentum as on a parameter.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 21, 1998•0 citations

An exact analysis of spontaneous emission by a single two level atom in the rotating wave approximation. I. Analytic results

S. Swain

The problem of a single two level atom in its excited state, placed in a cavity in which no photons are present initially, and interacting with N modes of the electromagnetic field is solved exactly in the electric dipole, rotating wave approximation. Expressions for the energy eigenvalues and eigenvectors are derived, and an exact representation for the time dependent wavefunction of the system is given. These quantities are evaluated analytically for N=1,2 and 3, and the time dependent properties of the system for these values of N are investigated and discussed.

Journal of physics. A, Proceedings of the Physical Society. General•Nov 1, 1972•36 citations

Angular Distribution of Radiation Following Photoionization of Polarized Atoms

Alicija Kupliauskienė, V Tutlys

A method alternative to the density matrix formalism is applied to derive a general expression for the radiative decay probability following the photoionization of polarized atoms in two-step approximation. The graphical technique of the angular momentum theory is used for the integration over angular and spin variables. The general expression joining both steps of photoionization and fluorescence contains the possibility to investigate the polarization of all particles in the initial and final states and the angular distributions as well as angular correlations of photoelectrons and radiation. A simple way to get the expressions for special cases of the angular distribution and polarization of fluorescence radiation in the photoionization of randomly orientated and polarized atoms is given as an example of the practical application of the general formula.

Physica Scripta•Jan 1, 2004•6 citations

Theory of emission of radiation from an assembly of N two-level atoms

Ranjana Prakash, Naresh Chandra

Interaction with a multimode quantized radiation field of an assembly of $N$ two-level atoms contained in a small volume is considered for the special cases of (i) highly excited, (ii) weakly excited, and (iii) superradiant atomic assemblies, and solutions of equations of motion are obtained in closed form. For (i) and (ii) we show that, if the atomic assembly is in the Dicke state $|r,m>$, the spontaneously emitted radiation is Lorentzian, and its spectral width and the numerical value of the Lamb shift are $r+|m|$ times that for a single excited atom. For (i) the sign of Lamb shift is opposite to that for (ii) and for a single excited atom. Change in the frequency shift gives chirping in the pulse radiation emitted spontaneously by an assembly of atoms. We obtain the reduced density operator for a single mode and for the complete spontaneous emitted radiation, and discuss its characteristic function, weight function in diagonal representation, coherence functions, and normalized variance. We find that the emitted radiation is chaotic if all atoms are excited or if the assembly is weakly excited and is in thermal equilibrium. For a superradiant assembly, the radiation is coherent; it is only amplitude coherent if the initial atomic density operator is nondiagonal. We also study stimulated emission and scattering for the cases (i) and (ii). For case (iii) these phenomena do not take place.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1980•10 citations

Theory of cascade correlated emission from atom arrays

P. R. Berman, A. Kuzmich

We present a theory of cascade emission from an array of $N$ fixed, ``three-level'' atoms. The total angular momentum of the ground state of each atom is $J=0$, that of the intermediate state is $J=1$, and that of the upper state is $J=0$. The atoms are prepared in a spatially phased superposition of their ground and upper states, collectively sharing a single excitation. We calculate the time-integrated, joint probability distribution for radiation to be emitted in a given direction with a given polarization on each transition and use this joint probability distribution to calculate the time-integrated intensity emitted on each transition. The dipole-dipole interaction between the atoms is taken into account. Analytic expressions are obtained for two atoms and the calculation is then extended formally to an ensemble of $N$ atoms at arbitrary positions. As expected, the radiation emitted on the upper transition is unpolarized and isotropic. However, somewhat surprisingly, we find that for excitation by counterpropagating fields and for nearly equal ground to intermediate and intermediate to upper level transition frequencies, the radiation on the lower transition is also isotropic and unpolarized, provided the atoms are prepared in a fully symmetric state. We also establish conditions for which there can be a phase-matched enhancement of the joint probability density for specific directions of emissions on the upper and lower transitions.

Physical Review A•May 16, 2024•1 citation

Comparison between kinetic theory and wave function formalism in interaction between a two level system and radiation

Françoise Hénin

The meaning of perturbed states in the kinetic theory is first discussed. It is shown that the canonical form of the density matrix for a particle in a perturbed level does not correspond to a pure case, in the bare particle representation. The problem of spontaneous emission by an atom in its unperturbed excited state is then discussed. We first show that the results of the kinetic theory can also be obtained by the level shift operator formalism if one goes beyond the usual approximation. It is also shown that these results give a modified Lorentzian shape. Finally, we consider the resonant scattering of a photon. The solution of the kinetic equation gives us the transition probability per unit time. The frequency dependence is given by a modified Lorentz function, analogous to that obtained for the spontaneous emission line.

Bulletin de la Classe des sciences•Jan 1, 1968•0 citations
The problem of interaction of radiation with a single atom having an isolated pair of energy levels has been solved analytically using the formalism of a spin- 1 / 2 particle, and the T transformation in the interaction picture. This transformation is equivalent to going over to a rotating coordinate system in spin space. The case of the electric dipole transition Delta m=+or-1 is presented. The spin- 1 / 2 formalism is extended to an assembly of atoms. By taking the product of the T operators for single atoms, the T operator for the gas as a whole is obtained. A general expression for the density operator describing the state of the gas at any time t is obtained from density operators for individual atoms. The correlated emission from the gas can be obtained by the unitary transformation of the initial density matrix by the macroscopic T operator.
In recent years interest has significantly quickened in investigation of nonlinear optical and spectroscopic phenomena in such unique objects as Rydberg atoms (the atoms in the energy states near the ionization limit) and van der Waals complexes (dimers). These objects are characterized, in particular, by that their energy states are strongly degenerate due to a large value of angular (rotational) momentum. Here, the problem arises of adequate theoretical description of experimental results, especially when polarization peculiarities of nonlinear radiation processes are considered. The problem is caused by the existence of a huge number of quantum magnetic sublevels of energy states, which are, in the general case, coherently coupled to each other and take part in the radiation processes. Figure 1 gives a vivid presentation of the problem arising even in such a seemingly simple case when one need describe the radiation transitions caused by a strong monochromatic field between two energy levels with large values of the angular momentum J. If the field polarization is arbitrary, the whole set of the magnetic sublevels turn out to be coupled by radiative transitions. Formally, the problem becomes essentially multilevel. In this case not only the hope fades of solving it analytically using the traditional quantum-mechanical approach, but the problems of numerical solution grow abruptly with increasing quantum number J as well. On the other hand, as is often the case, every cloud has a silver lining. With large J we approach the situation when the rotational motion of particles can be described classically. It turns out that the transition from the quantum description of orientation states of the angular momentum to the classical one simplifies the problem radically: it reduces to the problem of radiation processes in the simplest model of nondegenerate states. In this case the rotational motion manifests itself in a dependence of the density matrix elements on orientation angles of the angular momentum as on a parameter.
The problem of a single two level atom in its excited state, placed in a cavity in which no photons are present initially, and interacting with N modes of the electromagnetic field is solved exactly in the electric dipole, rotating wave approximation. Expressions for the energy eigenvalues and eigenvectors are derived, and an exact representation for the time dependent wavefunction of the system is given. These quantities are evaluated analytically for N=1,2 and 3, and the time dependent properties of the system for these values of N are investigated and discussed.
A method alternative to the density matrix formalism is applied to derive a general expression for the radiative decay probability following the photoionization of polarized atoms in two-step approximation. The graphical technique of the angular momentum theory is used for the integration over angular and spin variables. The general expression joining both steps of photoionization and fluorescence contains the possibility to investigate the polarization of all particles in the initial and final states and the angular distributions as well as angular correlations of photoelectrons and radiation. A simple way to get the expressions for special cases of the angular distribution and polarization of fluorescence radiation in the photoionization of randomly orientated and polarized atoms is given as an example of the practical application of the general formula.
Interaction with a multimode quantized radiation field of an assembly of NNN two-level atoms contained in a small volume is considered for the special cases of (i) highly excited, (ii) weakly excited, and (iii) superradiant atomic assemblies, and solutions of equations of motion are obtained in closed form. For (i) and (ii) we show that, if the atomic assembly is in the Dicke state ∣r,m>|r,m>∣r,m>, the spontaneously emitted radiation is Lorentzian, and its spectral width and the numerical value of the Lamb shift are r+∣m∣r+|m|r+∣m∣ times that for a single excited atom. For (i) the sign of Lamb shift is opposite to that for (ii) and for a single excited atom. Change in the frequency shift gives chirping in the pulse radiation emitted spontaneously by an assembly of atoms. We obtain the reduced density operator for a single mode and for the complete spontaneous emitted radiation, and discuss its characteristic function, weight function in diagonal representation, coherence functions, and normalized variance. We find that the emitted radiation is chaotic if all atoms are excited or if the assembly is weakly excited and is in thermal equilibrium. For a superradiant assembly, the radiation is coherent; it is only amplitude coherent if the initial atomic density operator is nondiagonal. We also study stimulated emission and scattering for the cases (i) and (ii). For case (iii) these phenomena do not take place.
We present a theory of cascade emission from an array of NNN fixed, ``three-level'' atoms. The total angular momentum of the ground state of each atom is J=0J=0J=0, that of the intermediate state is J=1J=1J=1, and that of the upper state is J=0J=0J=0. The atoms are prepared in a spatially phased superposition of their ground and upper states, collectively sharing a single excitation. We calculate the time-integrated, joint probability distribution for radiation to be emitted in a given direction with a given polarization on each transition and use this joint probability distribution to calculate the time-integrated intensity emitted on each transition. The dipole-dipole interaction between the atoms is taken into account. Analytic expressions are obtained for two atoms and the calculation is then extended formally to an ensemble of NNN atoms at arbitrary positions. As expected, the radiation emitted on the upper transition is unpolarized and isotropic. However, somewhat surprisingly, we find that for excitation by counterpropagating fields and for nearly equal ground to intermediate and intermediate to upper level transition frequencies, the radiation on the lower transition is also isotropic and unpolarized, provided the atoms are prepared in a fully symmetric state. We also establish conditions for which there can be a phase-matched enhancement of the joint probability density for specific directions of emissions on the upper and lower transitions.
The meaning of perturbed states in the kinetic theory is first discussed. It is shown that the canonical form of the density matrix for a particle in a perturbed level does not correspond to a pure case, in the bare particle representation. The problem of spontaneous emission by an atom in its unperturbed excited state is then discussed. We first show that the results of the kinetic theory can also be obtained by the level shift operator formalism if one goes beyond the usual approximation. It is also shown that these results give a modified Lorentzian shape. Finally, we consider the resonant scattering of a photon. The solution of the kinetic equation gives us the transition probability per unit time. The frequency dependence is given by a modified Lorentz function, analogous to that obtained for the spontaneous emission line.