Physical Review A

Quantum-mechanical parametric amplification

Lowell S. Brown, Larry J. Carson

Published Dec 1, 1979• 32 citations

Abstract

Parametric amplification may be obtained in a harmonic oscillator if its spring constant is replaced by a time-dependent function. It is shown that the quantum transition probabilities may be expressed in a simple closed analytic form which involves only the classical amplification factor of the oscillator. The authors also compute the time evolution of the density matrix which initially describes a thermodynamic ensemble at temperature $T$ and show that this matrix can similarly be expressed in such a closed form.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.20.2486

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Quantum Statistics of Coupled Oscillator Systems

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Quantum Theory of Parametric Amplification. I

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Quantum Theory of Parametric Amplification. II

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Quantum-Mechanical Amplification and Frequency Conversion with a Trilinear Hamiltonian

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Statistical Dynamics of Quantum Oscillators and Parametric Amplification in a Single Mode

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Physical Review A

Quantum-mechanical parametric amplification

Lowell S. Brown, Larry J. Carson

Published Dec 1, 1979• 32 citations

Publisher

Abstract

T

and show that this matrix can similarly be expressed in such a closed form.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.20.2486

Related papers

Quantum Statistics of Coupled Oscillator Systems

B. R. Mollow

The statistical properties of systems of coupled quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillators are analyzed. The Hamiltonian for the system is assumed to be an inhomogeneous quadratic form in the creation and annihilation operators, and is allowed to have an explicit time dependence. The relationship to classical theory is emphasized by expressing pure states in terms of the coherent-state vectors, and density operators by means of the $P$ representation and an analogous representation involving the Wigner function. The state which evolves from an initially coherent state of the system is found, and equations governing the time evolution of the Wigner function and the weight function for the $P$ representation are derived, in differential and integral form, for arbitrary initial states of the system. The results remain valid for couplings which do not preserve the vacuum state, and for cases in which the time dependence of the coupling parameters gives rise to large-scale amplification of the initial field intensities. The analysis is performed by first treating general linear inhomogeneous canonical transformations on the oscillator variables, and then specializing to the case in which these transformations represent the solutions for the Heisenberg operators in terms of their initial values. The results are illustrated within the context of a model of parametric amplification.The statistical properties of systems of coupled quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillators are analyzed. The Hamiltonian for the system is assumed to be an inhomogeneous quadratic form in the creation and annihilation operators, and is allowed to have an explicit time dependence. The relationship to classical theory is emphasized by expressing pure states in terms of the coherent-state vectors, and density operators by means of the $P$ representation and an analogous representation involving the Wigner function. The state which evolves from an initially coherent state of the system is found, and equations governing the time evolution of the Wigner function and the weight function for the $P$ representation are derived, in differential and integral form, for arbitrary initial states of the system. The results remain valid for couplings which do not preserve the vacuum state, and for cases in which the time dependence of the coupling parameters gives rise to large-scale amplification of the initial field intensities. The analysis is performed by first treating general linear inhomogeneous canonical transformations on the oscillator variables, and then specializing to the case in which these transformations represent the solutions for the Heisenberg operators in terms of their initial values. The results are illustrated within the context of a model of parametric amplification.

Physical ReviewOct 25, 196795 citations

Quantum Theory of Parametric Amplification. I

B. R. Mollow, R. J. Glauber

The amplification of electromagnetic fields is analyzed in a quantum-mechanical context by discussing the behavior of a simple theoretical model of the parametric amplifier. The statistical properties of the amplifier fields are described by means of the time-dependent density operator for the system. In doing this, extensive use is made of the coherent states and the $P$ representation of the density operator, which provide a quantum-mechanical description of the fields closely resembling their classical description. Explicit solutions are obtained for the density operator for either of the two field modes for a variety of initial states of the modes. Initial states considered include combinations of coherent states, chaotic mixtures, and $n$ -quantum states. Particular attention is given the behavior of the amplifier fields in the limit of large amplification. The conditions are established under which the amplification process leads in this limit to the existence of a non-negative $P$ representation for the density operator for a single mode of oscillation.The amplification of electromagnetic fields is analyzed in a quantum-mechanical context by discussing the behavior of a simple theoretical model of the parametric amplifier. The statistical properties of the amplifier fields are described by means of the time-dependent density operator for the system. In doing this, extensive use is made of the coherent states and the $P$ representation of the density operator, which provide a quantum-mechanical description of the fields closely resembling their classical description. Explicit solutions are obtained for the density operator for either of the two field modes for a variety of initial states of the modes. Initial states considered include combinations of coherent states, chaotic mixtures, and $n$-quantum states. Particular attention is given the behavior of the amplifier fields in the limit of large amplification. The conditions are established under which the amplification process leads in this limit to the existence of a non-negative $P$ representation for the density operator for a single mode of oscillation.

Physical ReviewAug 25, 1967537 citations

Quantum Theory of Parametric Amplification. II

B. R. Mollow, Roy J. Glauber

The analysis of the quantum-mechanical parametric amplifier begun in the preceding paper is extended to describe the joint quantum state of the two interacting modes of oscillation of the system. Equations are derived for the time evolution of the Schr\"odinger density operator. Comparison with classical theory is made by describing the state of the quantum-mechanical system by means of the $P$ representation. The time evolution of the weight function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ for this representation, and of the corresponding Wigner distribution function $W(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$, is found. A decoupled form for the equations of motion for the field variables is exhibited which simplifies the solutions for these functions. It is shown that the amplification process gives rise to a correlation between the two mode amplitudes which becomes exceedingly strong with increasing time. The relation of this correlation to the time development of the functions $P(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ and $W(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ is discussed.The analysis of the quantum-mechanical parametric amplifier begun in the preceding paper is extended to describe the joint quantum state of the two interacting modes of oscillation of the system. Equations are derived for the time evolution of the Schr\"odinger density operator. Comparison with classical theory is made by describing the state of the quantum-mechanical system by means of the $P$ representation. The time evolution of the weight function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ for this representation, and of the corresponding Wigner distribution function $W(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$, is found. A decoupled form for the equations of motion for the field variables is exhibited which simplifies the solutions for these functions. It is shown that the amplification process gives rise to a correlation between the two mode amplitudes which becomes exceedingly strong with increasing time. The relation of this correlation to the time development of the functions $P(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ and $W(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ is discussed.

Physical ReviewAug 25, 1967236 citations

Quantum-Mechanical Amplification and Frequency Conversion with a Trilinear Hamiltonian

Daniel F. Walls, Richard G. Barakat

A description of the parametric amplifier and frequency converter is presented without introducing the classical (i.e., parametric) approximation for the pumping field. Constants of the motion are found which reduce the solution of the Schr\"odinger equation to the diagonalization of a matrix. This diagonalization is accomplished numerically, and the eigenvalues and eigen-functions of a system with fixed energy are calculated. The time-dependent behavior of the mean number of photons in the amplified or frequency up-converted field is presented. The time evolution of the probability distributions is illustrated. The technique is extended to the problem of coherent spontaneous emission from a system of $N$ two-level atoms interacting with the radiation field where both the atomic system and the radiation field are quantized.A description of the parametric amplifier and frequency converter is presented without introducing the classical (i.e., parametric) approximation for the pumping field. Constants of the motion are found which reduce the solution of the Schr\"odinger equation to the diagonalization of a matrix. This diagonalization is accomplished numerically, and the eigenvalues and eigen-functions of a system with fixed energy are calculated. The time-dependent behavior of the mean number of photons in the amplified or frequency up-converted field is presented. The time evolution of the probability distributions is illustrated. The technique is extended to the problem of coherent spontaneous emission from a system of $N$ two-level atoms interacting with the radiation field where both the atomic system and the radiation field are quantized.

Physical Review AFeb 1, 1970205 citations

Equivalence between free and harmonically trapped quantum particles

Ole Steuernagel

It is shown that general solutions of the free-particle Schroedinger equation can be mapped onto solutions of the Schroedinger equation for the harmonic oscillator. This is done in such a way that the time evolution of a free particle subjected to a sudden transition to a harmonic potential can be described by a simple coordinate transformation applied at the transition time. This procedure is computationally more efficient than either state-projection or propagator techniques. A concatenation of the map and its inverse allows us to map from one harmonic oscillator to another with a different spring constant.It is shown that general solutions of the free-particle Schroedinger equation can be mapped onto solutions of the Schroedinger equation for the harmonic oscillator. This is done in such a way that the time evolution of a free particle subjected to a sudden transition to a harmonic potential can be described by a simple coordinate transformation applied at the transition time. This procedure is computationally more efficient than either state-projection or propagator techniques. A concatenation of the map and its inverse allows us to map from one harmonic oscillator to another with a different spring constant.

arXiv:1008.3929Aug 23, 20100 citations

Statistical Dynamics of Quantum Oscillators and Parametric Amplification in a Single Mode

Maurice T. Raiford

The description of the statistical dynamics of quantum oscillators is formulated in terms of the Wigner distribution, analogous to the more commonly used $P$ distribution, with explicit formulas being obtained for its time evolution and for average values. This formulation is desirable because, e.g., the Wigner distribution always exists whereas the $P$ distribution does not. The formalism is applied to the process of parametric amplification in a single mode, which may be considered as the degenerate form of the well-known two-mode case. This degeneracy gives rise to significantly different properties; for example, the $P$ distribution for the single mode of interest evolves from a circularly symmetric two-dimensional Gaussian into an elliptically symmetric form and ceases to exist after a finite time, even for amplification in the presence of losses. This is contrary to the two-mode case. The corresponding Wigner distribution is found to exist as a well-behaved function for all time as expected, regardless of the amount of losses, and is used to calculate average values of various quantities of interest. It is found, e.g., that in the lossless case the average number of photons in the signal mode always becomes infinite as $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. This is in contrast to the corresponding classical result for the lossless case which allows the signal to decay rather than to grow with time, depending on the relative phase between the signal and the pump. Field fluctuations are discussed and found to have some unusual properties. The combination of frequency up-conversion with single-mode amplification is also described briefly. The effect of the quantization of the pump oscillator is considered in an Appendix.The description of the statistical dynamics of quantum oscillators is formulated in terms of the Wigner distribution, analogous to the more commonly used $P$ distribution, with explicit formulas being obtained for its time evolution and for average values. This formulation is desirable because, e.g., the Wigner distribution always exists whereas the $P$ distribution does not. The formalism is applied to the process of parametric amplification in a single mode, which may be considered as the degenerate form of the well-known two-mode case. This degeneracy gives rise to significantly different properties; for example, the $P$ distribution for the single mode of interest evolves from a circularly symmetric two-dimensional Gaussian into an elliptically symmetric form and ceases to exist after a finite time, even for amplification in the presence of losses. This is contrary to the two-mode case. The corresponding Wigner distribution is found to exist as a well-behaved function for all time as expected, regardless of the amount of losses, and is used to calculate average values of various quantities of interest. It is found, e.g., that in the lossless case the average number of photons in the signal mode always becomes infinite as $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. This is in contrast to the corresponding classical result for the lossless case which allows the signal to decay rather than to grow with time, depending on the relative phase between the signal and the pump. Field fluctuations are discussed and found to have some unusual properties. The combination of frequency up-conversion with single-mode amplification is also described briefly. The effect of the quantization of the pump oscillator is considered in an Appendix.

Physical Review AOct 1, 197061 citations

T

and show that this matrix can similarly be expressed in such a closed form.

P

representation and an analogous representation involving the Wigner function. The state which evolves from an initially coherent state of the system is found, and equations governing the time evolution of the Wigner function and the weight function for the

P

representation are derived, in differential and integral form, for arbitrary initial states of the system. The results remain valid for couplings which do not preserve the vacuum state, and for cases in which the time dependence of the coupling parameters gives rise to large-scale amplification of the initial field intensities. The analysis is performed by first treating general linear inhomogeneous canonical transformations on the oscillator variables, and then specializing to the case in which these transformations represent the solutions for the Heisenberg operators in terms of their initial values. The results are illustrated within the context of a model of parametric amplification.

P

representation of the density operator, which provide a quantum-mechanical description of the fields closely resembling their classical description. Explicit solutions are obtained for the density operator for either of the two field modes for a variety of initial states of the modes. Initial states considered include combinations of coherent states, chaotic mixtures, and

n

-quantum states. Particular attention is given the behavior of the amplifier fields in the limit of large amplification. The conditions are established under which the amplification process leads in this limit to the existence of a non-negative

P

representation for the density operator for a single mode of oscillation.

P

representation. The time evolution of the weight function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ for this representation, and of the corresponding Wigner distribution function $W(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$, is found. A decoupled form for the equations of motion for the field variables is exhibited which simplifies the solutions for these functions. It is shown that the amplification process gives rise to a correlation between the two mode amplitudes which becomes exceedingly strong with increasing time. The relation of this correlation to the time development of the functions $P(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ and $W(\ensuremath{\alpha}, \ensuremath{\beta}, t)$ is discussed.

N

two-level atoms interacting with the radiation field where both the atomic system and the radiation field are quantized.

The description of the statistical dynamics of quantum oscillators is formulated in terms of the Wigner distribution, analogous to the more commonly used

P

distribution, with explicit formulas being obtained for its time evolution and for average values. This formulation is desirable because, e.g., the Wigner distribution always exists whereas the

P

distribution does not. The formalism is applied to the process of parametric amplification in a single mode, which may be considered as the degenerate form of the well-known two-mode case. This degeneracy gives rise to significantly different properties; for example, the

P

distribution for the single mode of interest evolves from a circularly symmetric two-dimensional Gaussian into an elliptically symmetric form and ceases to exist after a finite time, even for amplification in the presence of losses. This is contrary to the two-mode case. The corresponding Wigner distribution is found to exist as a well-behaved function for all time as expected, regardless of the amount of losses, and is used to calculate average values of various quantities of interest. It is found, e.g., that in the lossless case the average number of photons in the signal mode always becomes infinite as $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. This is in contrast to the corresponding classical result for the lossless case which allows the signal to decay rather than to grow with time, depending on the relative phase between the signal and the pump. Field fluctuations are discussed and found to have some unusual properties. The combination of frequency up-conversion with single-mode amplification is also described briefly. The effect of the quantization of the pump oscillator is considered in an Appendix.