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

Interference between spontaneous emission in different directions

Ming Lai, J.-C. Diels

Published Oct 1, 1990• 7 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Is there coherence between the two beams spontaneously emitted in opposite directions by a thin plane of radiating atoms? A simple interference experiment gives a positive answer to this question.
DOI
10.1119/1.16302

Related papers

Highly directional photon superbunching from a few-atom chain of emitters

Qurrat-ul-Ain Gulfam, Z. Ficek

We examine angular distribution of the probability of correlated fluorescence photon emission from a linear chain of identical equidistant two-level atoms. We selectively excite one of the atoms by a resonant laser field. The atoms are coupled to each other via the dipole-dipole interaction and collective spontaneous emission. Our attention is focused on the simultaneous observation of correlated pairs of photons. It is found that the interference between the emitting atoms can result in a highly directional emission of photon pairs. These pairs of photons exhibit strong correlations and their emission is highly concentrated into specific directions. We demonstrate the crucial role of the selective coherent excitation in such a geometrical configuration. Shifting the driving field from an atom located at one end of the chain to the other causes the radiation pattern to flip to the opposite half of the detection plane. Furthermore, we find that atomic systems in which only an atom situated at a particular position within the linear chain is driven by a laser field can radiate correlated twin photons in directions along which the radiation of single photons is significantly reduced. Alternatively, superbunching in the emitted photon statistics preferentially occurs in directions of negligible or vanishing single-photon emission. The effect of superbunching strengthens as more emitters are added to the chain. Depending on the number of atoms and the position of the driven atom within the chain, the strongly correlated pairs of photons can be emitted into few well-defined directions.

arXiv:1808.03968•Physical Review A•Dec 14, 2018•33 citations

Current Double-Slit Experiment Proves That There is No Light Interference

Liew Boon Hee

Current Research in Physics•Jan 15, 2024•1 citation

On the Spontaneous Emission from Two-Level Atoms in a Damped Cavity

JOSIP SEKE

Springer eBooks•Jan 1, 1986•0 citations

Wave–particle duality of a photon in emission

Ming Lai, Jean‐Claude Diels

The wave–particle duality of a photon in emission is demonstrated by measuring the interference between spontaneous emissions in nearly opposite directions from a thin layer of organic dye. The interference is the product of a single photon from a single-emission process. It is shown that the Heisenberg uncertainty relation requires that the interference generated by the spontaneously emitted photon and the recoil transferred to the molecule by the emission cannot be observed simultaneously.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Dec 1, 1992•12 citations

Spontaneous emission

Harry Paul

Particle properties of radiation One of the most important properties of macroscopic material systems is their ability to emit radiation spontaneously. According to quantum mechanics, the emission process is realized in the following way: an atom (or a molecule) makes a transition from a higher lying energy level (to which it was brought, for example, by an electron collision) to a lower lying energy level without any noticeable external influence (in the form of an existing electromagnetic field), and the released energy is emitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The discrete energy structure of the atom dictated by the laws of quantum mechanics is imprinted also on the emission process (quantization of the emission energy), since the energy conservation law is also valid for single (individual) transitions. Hence, a single photon, in the sense of a well defined energy quantum, is always emitted. The emitted quanta can be directly detected by a photodetector. (Strictly speaking, identifying a registered photon with an emitted one is possible only when it is guaranteed that the observed volume contains only a single atom. (For details see Sections 6.8 and 8.1.) Under realistic conditions, the experiment can be performed in the following way. First, a beam of ionized atoms is sent through a thin foil; the emerging beam then consists of excited atoms. (This procedure is known as the beam–foil technique.) A detector is placed at a distance d from the foil to detect light emitted sideways by the atomic beam (Fig. 6.1).

Cambridge University Press eBooks•May 20, 2004•0 citations

Effects of quantum interference on the spontaneous emission in a coherently driven three-level atom

Sihua Yuan, J.-Y. Gao

The European Physical Journal D•Jul 1, 2000•8 citations
We examine angular distribution of the probability of correlated fluorescence photon emission from a linear chain of identical equidistant two-level atoms. We selectively excite one of the atoms by a resonant laser field. The atoms are coupled to each other via the dipole-dipole interaction and collective spontaneous emission. Our attention is focused on the simultaneous observation of correlated pairs of photons. It is found that the interference between the emitting atoms can result in a highly directional emission of photon pairs. These pairs of photons exhibit strong correlations and their emission is highly concentrated into specific directions. We demonstrate the crucial role of the selective coherent excitation in such a geometrical configuration. Shifting the driving field from an atom located at one end of the chain to the other causes the radiation pattern to flip to the opposite half of the detection plane. Furthermore, we find that atomic systems in which only an atom situated at a particular position within the linear chain is driven by a laser field can radiate correlated twin photons in directions along which the radiation of single photons is significantly reduced. Alternatively, superbunching in the emitted photon statistics preferentially occurs in directions of negligible or vanishing single-photon emission. The effect of superbunching strengthens as more emitters are added to the chain. Depending on the number of atoms and the position of the driven atom within the chain, the strongly correlated pairs of photons can be emitted into few well-defined directions.
Particle properties of radiation One of the most important properties of macroscopic material systems is their ability to emit radiation spontaneously. According to quantum mechanics, the emission process is realized in the following way: an atom (or a molecule) makes a transition from a higher lying energy level (to which it was brought, for example, by an electron collision) to a lower lying energy level without any noticeable external influence (in the form of an existing electromagnetic field), and the released energy is emitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The discrete energy structure of the atom dictated by the laws of quantum mechanics is imprinted also on the emission process (quantization of the emission energy), since the energy conservation law is also valid for single (individual) transitions. Hence, a single photon, in the sense of a well defined energy quantum, is always emitted. The emitted quanta can be directly detected by a photodetector. (Strictly speaking, identifying a registered photon with an emitted one is possible only when it is guaranteed that the observed volume contains only a single atom. (For details see Sections 6.8 and 8.1.) Under realistic conditions, the experiment can be performed in the following way. First, a beam of ionized atoms is sent through a thin foil; the emerging beam then consists of excited atoms. (This procedure is known as the beam–foil technique.) A detector is placed at a distance d from the foil to detect light emitted sideways by the atomic beam (Fig. 6.1).