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

American Journal of Physics

Simple soluble models of quantum damping applied to cavity quantum electrodynamics

Martin Ligare, Stephen Becker

Published Sep 1, 1995• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present two simple soluble quantum optical models in which an atomic system is coupled to a bath containing an infinite number of reservoir states. The total system is treated conservatively, but the atomic subsystem of interest exhibits decay. The first system consists of a single two-level atom coupled to an infinite number of modes of a one-dimensional cavity which are equally spaced in frequency. The coupling results in spontaneous emission by an excited atom into the modes of the cavity. The model also exhibits the subsequent re-excitation of the atom after the spontaneously emitted radiation is reflected from the ends of the cavity. The second is a single two-level atom coupled to a single mode of a damped optical cavity where the damping is provided by coupling to quantized oscillators in the walls of the cavity. The damped cavity alters the spontaneous emission rate from its free space value. The simplicity of both models makes them attractive as a method for introducing quantum mechanical damping phenomena.

DOI
10.1119/1.17802

Related papers

Quantum theory of spontaneous emission in a one-dimensional optical cavity with two-side output coupling

Xiao-Ping Feng, Kikuo Ujihara

A quantum theory of spontaneous emission from an initially excited two-level atom in a one-dimensional optical cavity with output coupling from both sides is developed. Orthonormal mode functions with a continuous spectrum are employed, which are derived by imposing a periodic boundary condition on the whole space with a period much larger than the cavity length. The delay differential equation of the atomic state of Cook and Milonni [Phys. Rev. A 35, 5081 (1987)] is re-derived in a strict manner, where the reflectivity of the cavity mirrors is included naturally in the mode functions. An approximate solution at a single-resonant-mode limit shows the results of ``vacuum'' Rabi oscillation in an underdamped cavity and enhanced spontaneous emission rate in an overdamped cavity. For the latter case, it is found that in the optical range the spontaneous emission rate is enhanced by a factor F (finesse of the cavity).

Physical Review A•Mar 1, 1990•71 citations

Quantum optical master equations: The use of damping bases

Hans‐Jürgen Briegel, Berthold‐Georg Englert

We present the complete analytical solution of the cavity QED of a two-level atom and a field mode at zero temperature. It includes both dissipation of the field due to a finite Q value of the cavity and incoherent decay mechanisms for the atom. This analytical solution is provided by a powerful method for treating general master equations that appear in quantum optics. As distinct from the usual approaches we first deal with that part of the master equation which describes the dissipative coupling of the field and the atom to their reservoirs. Rather than using number-state or dressed-state bases we expand the density operator into the eigenstates of the nonunitary parts of the master equation which model the dissipative part of the dynamics. The set of these eigenstates is the damping basis. With the aid of this expansion we find the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the total Liouville operator. The evolution of an arbitrary initial state is then known. We employ these results to give an exact solution of the dynamics of the photon field in realistic experiments with one-atom masers at very low temperatures. It includes detuning, cavity leakage effects, spontaneous decay mechanisms for the atoms, a Fizeau-type velocity distribution for the atomic beam, and a statistical parameter for the probability of the excitation of incoming atoms, covering the limits of Poissonian pumping and of regular pumping. On the same grounds one can treat the one-atom laser, consisting of a single atom which stays in permanent interaction with the field mode and which is continuously pumped by external heat baths.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1993•239 citations

Cavity-modified spontaneous emission: From Rabi oscillations to exponential decay

H. Gie\Sen, Jill D. Berger, Georg Mohs +2 more

We revisit the problem of spontaneous emission by a two-level system in a cavity, concentrating in particular on those aspects associated with the finite propagation time of light between the atom and the cavity boundaries. We find that spontaneous emission always occurs first at the free space rate and there is then an abrupt change in these dynamics when light reflected by the cavity mirrors returns to the atom, leading to interference effects that result either in an enhancement or a reduction of this rate or in a periodic exchange of excitation between the atom and the cavity field. From this point of view, reversible spontaneous emission in terms of single-mode ``vacuum Rabi oscillations'' can be interpreted as resulting from the interference between the multimode partial waves reflected at the cavity mirrors and the instantaneously radiated light. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1996•49 citations

Cavity quantum electrodynamics

Partha Ghose

Introduction Ever since 1916/17 when Einstein argued [45] [46] that spontaneous emission must occur if matter and radiation are to achieve thermal equilibrium, physicists have believed that spontaneous emission is an inherent quantum mechanical property of atoms and that excited atoms inevitably radiate. This view, however, overlooks the fact that spontaneous emission is a consequence of the coupling of quantized energy states of atoms with the quantized radiation field, and is a manifestation of quantum noise or of emission ‘stimulated’ by ‘vacuum fluctuations’. An infinity of vacuum states is available to the photon radiated by an excited atom placed in free space, leading to the effective irreversibility of such emissions. If these vacuum states are modified, as for example by placing an excited atom between closely spaced mirrors or in a small cavity (essentially the Casimir effect), spontaneous emission can be greatly inhibited or enhanced or even made reversible. Recent advances in atomic and optical techniques have made it possible to control and manipulate spontaneous emission. A whole new branch of quantum optics called ‘cavity QED’ has developed since 1987 utilizing these dramatic changes in spontaneous emission rates in cavities to construct new kinds of microscopic masers or micromasers that operate with a single atom and a few photons or with photons emitted in pairs in a two-photon transition.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Apr 29, 1999•0 citations

Dissipation control in cavity QED with oscillating mode structures

I. E. Linington, B. M. Garraway

We demonstrate how a time-dependent dissipative environment may be used as a tool for controlling the quantum state of a two-level atom. In our model system the frequency and coupling strength associated with microscopic reservoir modes are modulated, while the principal features of the reservoir structure remain fixed in time. Physically, this may be achieved by containing a static atom-cavity system inside an oscillating external bath. We show that it is possible to dynamically decouple the atom from its environment, despite the fact that the two remain resonant at all times. This can lead to Markovian dynamics, even for a strong atom-bath coupling, as the atomic decay becomes inhibited into all but a few channels; the reservoir occupation spectrum consequently acquires a sideband structure, with peaks separated by the frequency of the environmental modulation. The reduction in the rate of spontaneous emission using this approach can be significantly greater than could be achieved with an oscillatory atom-bath detuning using the same parameters.

arXiv:0802.1199•Physical Review A•Mar 18, 2008•30 citations

Quantum theory of damping – density operator and wave function approach

Marlan O. Scully, Muhammad Suhail Zubairy

In many problems in quantum optics, damping plays an important role. These include, for example, the decay of an atom in an excited state to a lower state and the decay of the radiation field inside a cavity with partially transparent mirrors. In general, damping of a system is described by its interaction with a reservoir with a large number of degrees of freedom. We are interested, however, in the evolution of the variables associated with the system only. This requires us to obtain the equations of motion for the system of interest only after tracing over the reservoir variables. There are several different approaches to deal with this problem. In this chapter, we present a theory of damping based on the density operator in which the reservoir variables are eliminated by using the reduced density operator for the system in the Schrödinger (or interaction) picture. We also present a ‘quantum jump’ approach to damping. In the next chapter, the damping of the system will be considered using the noise operator method in the Heisenberg picture. An insight into the damping mechanism is obtained by considering the decay of an atom in an excited state inside a cavity. The atom may be considered as a single system coupled to the radiation field inside the cavity. Even in the absence of photons in the cavity, there are quantum fluctuations associated with the vacuum state. As discussed in Chapter 1, the field may be visualized as a large number of harmonic oscillators, one for each mode of the cavity.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Sep 4, 1997•7 citations
We present two simple soluble quantum optical models in which an atomic system is coupled to a bath containing an infinite number of reservoir states. The total system is treated conservatively, but the atomic subsystem of interest exhibits decay. The first system consists of a single two-level atom coupled to an infinite number of modes of a one-dimensional cavity which are equally spaced in frequency. The coupling results in spontaneous emission by an excited atom into the modes of the cavity. The model also exhibits the subsequent re-excitation of the atom after the spontaneously emitted radiation is reflected from the ends of the cavity. The second is a single two-level atom coupled to a single mode of a damped optical cavity where the damping is provided by coupling to quantized oscillators in the walls of the cavity. The damped cavity alters the spontaneous emission rate from its free space value. The simplicity of both models makes them attractive as a method for introducing quantum mechanical damping phenomena.
A quantum theory of spontaneous emission from an initially excited two-level atom in a one-dimensional optical cavity with output coupling from both sides is developed. Orthonormal mode functions with a continuous spectrum are employed, which are derived by imposing a periodic boundary condition on the whole space with a period much larger than the cavity length. The delay differential equation of the atomic state of Cook and Milonni [Phys. Rev. A 35, 5081 (1987)] is re-derived in a strict manner, where the reflectivity of the cavity mirrors is included naturally in the mode functions. An approximate solution at a single-resonant-mode limit shows the results of ``vacuum'' Rabi oscillation in an underdamped cavity and enhanced spontaneous emission rate in an overdamped cavity. For the latter case, it is found that in the optical range the spontaneous emission rate is enhanced by a factor F (finesse of the cavity).
We present the complete analytical solution of the cavity QED of a two-level atom and a field mode at zero temperature. It includes both dissipation of the field due to a finite Q value of the cavity and incoherent decay mechanisms for the atom. This analytical solution is provided by a powerful method for treating general master equations that appear in quantum optics. As distinct from the usual approaches we first deal with that part of the master equation which describes the dissipative coupling of the field and the atom to their reservoirs. Rather than using number-state or dressed-state bases we expand the density operator into the eigenstates of the nonunitary parts of the master equation which model the dissipative part of the dynamics. The set of these eigenstates is the damping basis. With the aid of this expansion we find the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the total Liouville operator. The evolution of an arbitrary initial state is then known. We employ these results to give an exact solution of the dynamics of the photon field in realistic experiments with one-atom masers at very low temperatures. It includes detuning, cavity leakage effects, spontaneous decay mechanisms for the atoms, a Fizeau-type velocity distribution for the atomic beam, and a statistical parameter for the probability of the excitation of incoming atoms, covering the limits of Poissonian pumping and of regular pumping. On the same grounds one can treat the one-atom laser, consisting of a single atom which stays in permanent interaction with the field mode and which is continuously pumped by external heat baths.
We revisit the problem of spontaneous emission by a two-level system in a cavity, concentrating in particular on those aspects associated with the finite propagation time of light between the atom and the cavity boundaries. We find that spontaneous emission always occurs first at the free space rate and there is then an abrupt change in these dynamics when light reflected by the cavity mirrors returns to the atom, leading to interference effects that result either in an enhancement or a reduction of this rate or in a periodic exchange of excitation between the atom and the cavity field. From this point of view, reversible spontaneous emission in terms of single-mode ``vacuum Rabi oscillations'' can be interpreted as resulting from the interference between the multimode partial waves reflected at the cavity mirrors and the instantaneously radiated light. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Introduction Ever since 1916/17 when Einstein argued [45] [46] that spontaneous emission must occur if matter and radiation are to achieve thermal equilibrium, physicists have believed that spontaneous emission is an inherent quantum mechanical property of atoms and that excited atoms inevitably radiate. This view, however, overlooks the fact that spontaneous emission is a consequence of the coupling of quantized energy states of atoms with the quantized radiation field, and is a manifestation of quantum noise or of emission ‘stimulated’ by ‘vacuum fluctuations’. An infinity of vacuum states is available to the photon radiated by an excited atom placed in free space, leading to the effective irreversibility of such emissions. If these vacuum states are modified, as for example by placing an excited atom between closely spaced mirrors or in a small cavity (essentially the Casimir effect), spontaneous emission can be greatly inhibited or enhanced or even made reversible. Recent advances in atomic and optical techniques have made it possible to control and manipulate spontaneous emission. A whole new branch of quantum optics called ‘cavity QED’ has developed since 1987 utilizing these dramatic changes in spontaneous emission rates in cavities to construct new kinds of microscopic masers or micromasers that operate with a single atom and a few photons or with photons emitted in pairs in a two-photon transition.
We demonstrate how a time-dependent dissipative environment may be used as a tool for controlling the quantum state of a two-level atom. In our model system the frequency and coupling strength associated with microscopic reservoir modes are modulated, while the principal features of the reservoir structure remain fixed in time. Physically, this may be achieved by containing a static atom-cavity system inside an oscillating external bath. We show that it is possible to dynamically decouple the atom from its environment, despite the fact that the two remain resonant at all times. This can lead to Markovian dynamics, even for a strong atom-bath coupling, as the atomic decay becomes inhibited into all but a few channels; the reservoir occupation spectrum consequently acquires a sideband structure, with peaks separated by the frequency of the environmental modulation. The reduction in the rate of spontaneous emission using this approach can be significantly greater than could be achieved with an oscillatory atom-bath detuning using the same parameters.
In many problems in quantum optics, damping plays an important role. These include, for example, the decay of an atom in an excited state to a lower state and the decay of the radiation field inside a cavity with partially transparent mirrors. In general, damping of a system is described by its interaction with a reservoir with a large number of degrees of freedom. We are interested, however, in the evolution of the variables associated with the system only. This requires us to obtain the equations of motion for the system of interest only after tracing over the reservoir variables. There are several different approaches to deal with this problem. In this chapter, we present a theory of damping based on the density operator in which the reservoir variables are eliminated by using the reduced density operator for the system in the Schrödinger (or interaction) picture. We also present a ‘quantum jump’ approach to damping. In the next chapter, the damping of the system will be considered using the noise operator method in the Heisenberg picture. An insight into the damping mechanism is obtained by considering the decay of an atom in an excited state inside a cavity. The atom may be considered as a single system coupled to the radiation field inside the cavity. Even in the absence of photons in the cavity, there are quantum fluctuations associated with the vacuum state. As discussed in Chapter 1, the field may be visualized as a large number of harmonic oscillators, one for each mode of the cavity.