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

Physical Review A

Superradiant Intensity Fluctuations

Joseph H. Eberly, Nicholas E. Rehler

Published Oct 1, 1970• 61 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe a new approach to the problem of superradiant spontaneous emission, which is applicable whether the number of atoms is large or small. We use this approach to formulate intensity correlations of arbitrary order, and then explicitly evaluate the second-order normally ordered relative intensity fluctuation. Large fluctuations at the onset of emission indicate the discrete nature of the spontaneous emission process; and the very small fluctuations found later at the emission peak show that the emitting process has by then become essentially classical.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.2.1607

Related papers

Superradiance Revisited

Joseph H. Eberly

The basic features of coherent spontaneous emission, including its dependence on the square of the number of participating emitters, are reviewed. Analogies with magnetic resonance phenomena are exploited, and we explain the need to go beyond such analogies in order to treat optical emission. Some recent results in the theory of optical superradiance are discussed. The radiative decay process is treated as a quantum-classical interpolation problem, and explicit solutions are given. In addition to its time dependence, we give the angular distribution of radiated power and the expected intensity fluctuations, and we estimate the maximum number of emitters which can cooperate in a superradiant event. Dicke's “coherence brightening” criterion is discussed from the point of view of the present paper. A “failure” of the criterion is exhibited and explained. Two of the purely quantum aspects of superradiance are isolated and discussed briefly.

American Journal of Physics•Oct 1, 1972•47 citations

Superradiance

Nicholas E. Rehler, Joseph H. Eberly

We introduce a straightforward quantum-electrodynamic approach to the problem of superradiant spontaneous emission from a system of two-level atoms, and also discuss two classical superradiant systems. The same physical concepts underlie our treatment of both the quantum and classical cases. Explicit expressions are found which describe the time evolution and directional character of the radiated power. Our approach applies to an arbitrary number of atoms which are confined to a region with linear dimensions which may be large compared with the mean wavelength of the emitted radiation. The radiative decay half-life of a large many-atom system is found to be much shorter than the natural lifetime of a single atom, but not as short as the half-life of a small atomic system with the same number of atoms. The far-field radiation pattern appropriate to the case of a circular cylinder of emitters which have been excited by a plane-wave pulse is considered in detail. Polar plots are presented of the radiation patterns produced when the atoms are excited by a plane-wave pulse. Exciting pulses traveling in directions both parallel and at an angle of 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the axis of the cylinder are considered. A discussion and generalization of Dicke's "coherence-brightening" criterion is given.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1971•534 citations

Superradiant Intensity Fluctuations in Neoclassical Radiation Theory

Andrzej Zardecki

The fluctuation properties of a system of two level atoms are investigated by introducing a random precession term into the equations of motion of the atomic super Bloch vector. Starting from the assumptions of neoclassical radiation theory a general formula for the dipole field of a small system of atoms is derived. The intensity fluctuations are calculated in the narrowing limit for two extreme cases of very large and very small atomic to thermal energy ratios. The former case, describing a true superradiant emission, involves asymptotic solutions to the Fokker-Planck equation. The latter case, treated by perturbation theory, corresponds to spontaneous emission in the presence of incoherent pumping.

Canadian Journal of Physics•Dec 15, 1974•1 citation

Quantum Statistical Theory of Superradiance. II

R. Bonifacio, P. Schwendimann, Fritz Haake

We discuss the solution of the "superradiance master equation" derived in a preceding paper. During the first few photon transient times the cooperative atomic decay goes through a non-adiabatic oscillatory regime. For later times the decay takes place monotonically in time with the electromagnetic field following it adiabatically. The emitted light pulse has different statistical properties for an incoherently and a coherently prepared "superradiant" atomic initial state. The former case is characterized by large quantum fluctuations and strong atom-atom and atom-field correlations. In the latter case quantum fluctuations are small and the system behaves essentially classically. By also solving for a class of coherently prepared intermediate initial states we show that large quantum fluctuations occur only if the initial total occupancy of the excited state differs from the total number of atoms at most by a number of order unity.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1971•266 citations

Master-Equation Approach to Spontaneous Emission

G. S. Agarwal

Spontaneous emission from a system of $N$ identical two-level atoms is considered using a master equation recently derived by the author. The master equation describing the time evolution of the phase-space distribution function associated with the reduced density operator of the atomic system is obtained. This master equation, which is of the type of a Fokker-Planck equation, is used to derive the equation of motion for the mean values of various atomic operators characterizing the physical properties of the system. This leads to a hierarchy of equations, which is decoupled by making a suitable approximation. The intensity of the spontaneously emitted radiation is then calculated. Next, the spontaneous emission from geometrically small systems is considered. For this case, the master equation is solved exactly, and an exact expression for the radiation rate is obtained. The exact solution of the master equation is also used to calculate the normally ordered correlation functions for the electric field. Section V deals with the spontaneous emission from a system of harmonic oscillators, the size of the system being small compared to a wavelength. The master equation for this problem is also solved exactly, and it is shown that this system also leads to superradiant emission in some cases, e.g., if all the oscillstors are excited initially to some coherent state $|{z}_{0}〉$.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1970•232 citations

Fluctuation of Polarized Light in Cooperative Spontaneous Emission

Takeshi Baba, Kensuke S. Ikeda

Macroscopic fluctuation of superradiance most sensitively appears as the fluctuation of the polarized photon number. This fluctuation is not much affected by unexpected variation of the exciting pulse area. In the superradiance limit the relative fiuctuation of the polarized photon number is equal to \(\sqrt{1/3}\), and it decreases rapidly as the atomic number density is reduced below a threshold density. Such a characteristic change is attributed to a transition from the superradiant emission to the amplified spontaneous emission.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan•Jan 1, 1981•5 citations
We describe a new approach to the problem of superradiant spontaneous emission, which is applicable whether the number of atoms is large or small. We use this approach to formulate intensity correlations of arbitrary order, and then explicitly evaluate the second-order normally ordered relative intensity fluctuation. Large fluctuations at the onset of emission indicate the discrete nature of the spontaneous emission process; and the very small fluctuations found later at the emission peak show that the emitting process has by then become essentially classical.
The basic features of coherent spontaneous emission, including its dependence on the square of the number of participating emitters, are reviewed. Analogies with magnetic resonance phenomena are exploited, and we explain the need to go beyond such analogies in order to treat optical emission. Some recent results in the theory of optical superradiance are discussed. The radiative decay process is treated as a quantum-classical interpolation problem, and explicit solutions are given. In addition to its time dependence, we give the angular distribution of radiated power and the expected intensity fluctuations, and we estimate the maximum number of emitters which can cooperate in a superradiant event. Dicke's “coherence brightening” criterion is discussed from the point of view of the present paper. A “failure” of the criterion is exhibited and explained. Two of the purely quantum aspects of superradiance are isolated and discussed briefly.
We introduce a straightforward quantum-electrodynamic approach to the problem of superradiant spontaneous emission from a system of two-level atoms, and also discuss two classical superradiant systems. The same physical concepts underlie our treatment of both the quantum and classical cases. Explicit expressions are found which describe the time evolution and directional character of the radiated power. Our approach applies to an arbitrary number of atoms which are confined to a region with linear dimensions which may be large compared with the mean wavelength of the emitted radiation. The radiative decay half-life of a large many-atom system is found to be much shorter than the natural lifetime of a single atom, but not as short as the half-life of a small atomic system with the same number of atoms. The far-field radiation pattern appropriate to the case of a circular cylinder of emitters which have been excited by a plane-wave pulse is considered in detail. Polar plots are presented of the radiation patterns produced when the atoms are excited by a plane-wave pulse. Exciting pulses traveling in directions both parallel and at an angle of 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the axis of the cylinder are considered. A discussion and generalization of Dicke's "coherence-brightening" criterion is given.
The fluctuation properties of a system of two level atoms are investigated by introducing a random precession term into the equations of motion of the atomic super Bloch vector. Starting from the assumptions of neoclassical radiation theory a general formula for the dipole field of a small system of atoms is derived. The intensity fluctuations are calculated in the narrowing limit for two extreme cases of very large and very small atomic to thermal energy ratios. The former case, describing a true superradiant emission, involves asymptotic solutions to the Fokker-Planck equation. The latter case, treated by perturbation theory, corresponds to spontaneous emission in the presence of incoherent pumping.
We discuss the solution of the "superradiance master equation" derived in a preceding paper. During the first few photon transient times the cooperative atomic decay goes through a non-adiabatic oscillatory regime. For later times the decay takes place monotonically in time with the electromagnetic field following it adiabatically. The emitted light pulse has different statistical properties for an incoherently and a coherently prepared "superradiant" atomic initial state. The former case is characterized by large quantum fluctuations and strong atom-atom and atom-field correlations. In the latter case quantum fluctuations are small and the system behaves essentially classically. By also solving for a class of coherently prepared intermediate initial states we show that large quantum fluctuations occur only if the initial total occupancy of the excited state differs from the total number of atoms at most by a number of order unity.
Spontaneous emission from a system of NNN identical two-level atoms is considered using a master equation recently derived by the author. The master equation describing the time evolution of the phase-space distribution function associated with the reduced density operator of the atomic system is obtained. This master equation, which is of the type of a Fokker-Planck equation, is used to derive the equation of motion for the mean values of various atomic operators characterizing the physical properties of the system. This leads to a hierarchy of equations, which is decoupled by making a suitable approximation. The intensity of the spontaneously emitted radiation is then calculated. Next, the spontaneous emission from geometrically small systems is considered. For this case, the master equation is solved exactly, and an exact expression for the radiation rate is obtained. The exact solution of the master equation is also used to calculate the normally ordered correlation functions for the electric field. Section V deals with the spontaneous emission from a system of harmonic oscillators, the size of the system being small compared to a wavelength. The master equation for this problem is also solved exactly, and it is shown that this system also leads to superradiant emission in some cases, e.g., if all the oscillstors are excited initially to some coherent state ∣z0〉|{z}_{0}〉∣z0​〉.
Macroscopic fluctuation of superradiance most sensitively appears as the fluctuation of the polarized photon number. This fluctuation is not much affected by unexpected variation of the exciting pulse area. In the superradiance limit the relative fiuctuation of the polarized photon number is equal to 1/3\sqrt{1/3}1/3​, and it decreases rapidly as the atomic number density is reduced below a threshold density. Such a characteristic change is attributed to a transition from the superradiant emission to the amplified spontaneous emission.