Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics
Squeezing and squeezing-like terms in the master equation for a two-level atom in strong fields
R. Tanaś
Abstract
If a broadband squeezed vacuum is treated as a reservoir with respect to a two-level atom, the non-zero phase-dependent reservoir correlation functions characterizing the squeezed vacuum introduce `squeezing terms' to the master equation. These terms are responsible, for example, for the well known narrowing of the spectral lines in the resonance fluorescence spectrum of the atom. For a squeezed vacuum reservoir with finite bandwidth it is possible to derive the master equation that is consistent with the Born-Markov approximation by a two-step procedure which consists in dressing the atom first and next coupling it to the finite-bandwidth reservoir. The master equation is valid whenever the bandwidth of the reservoir is much broader than the atomic linewidth but not necessarily broader than the Rabi frequency. This procedure can be applied not only for the squeezed vacuum reservoir but also for the ordinary vacuum with the structure of the mode density that is not flat, e.g., modelled by a Lorentzian function as in a cavity. The master equation for this case, in the operator form, shows some similarities to the master equation for the squeezed vacuum reservoir due to the presence of the `squeezing-like terms'. The similarities and differences of the two master equations are discussed in this paper.