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

Quantum and Semiclassical Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B

Micromaser on a single atom with optical pumping

Alexander Ya. Kazakov

Published Dec 1, 1998• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

If an atom interacts with a classical field and quantized mode simultaneously, exchange by photons between the different components of the field is possible. Such systems can be exploited in order to generate radiation in the quantized mode and can be considered as a micromaser with optical pumping. The process of generation of the quantized field and the quantum-statistical characteristics of this radiation are under investigation.

DOI
10.1088/1355-5111/10/6/007

Related papers

A two-photon one-atom micromaser with permanent optical pumping

Alexander Ya. Kazakov

A new version of the one-atom micromaser is under consideration. This micromaser is based on a three-level atom interacting simultaneously both with the quasi-resonant classical fields and with the quantized mode, which is in two-photon resonance with the third atomic transition. It is shown that such a micromaser can be a source of quantized radiation with nonclassical quantum statistical characteristics.

Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics•Apr 12, 2001•6 citations

Quantum theory of the coherently pumped micromaser

István Németh, János A. Bergou

Detailed theoretical and experimental study of the atom–field interaction starting from first principles was made possible by the realization of the single-atom micromaser. The situation realized in a micromaser is very close to the ideal case of a single two-level atom interacting with a single quantized mode of a superconducting cavity. This system's ability to coherently transfer quantum states between atoms and photons made it relevant in the context of quantum computation as well. Although considerable work, both theoretical and experimental, has been devoted to this system, with a few exceptions, most cases involved only non-coherent pumping. As a result, the density matrix describing the cavity field remained diagonal, preventing the appearance of coherences. Here, our goal is to provide a summary of the progress we made toward a comprehensive understanding of the features of the coherently pumped micromaser with special respect to coherences, which are central to quantum information processing.

Physica Scripta•Jul 1, 2009•0 citations

Quantum theory of the coherently pumped micromaser: Model and steady-state solution

István Németh, János A. Bergou

A detailed theoretical and experimental study of the atom-field interaction starting from first principles was made possible by the realization of the single-atom micromaser. The situation is very close to the ideal case of a single two-level atom interacting with a single quantized mode of a superconducting cavity. In spite of the considerable amount of work devoted to the study of the micromaser, it still remains to be established how the system behaves under coherent pumping. We present a comprehensive study of the coherently pumped micromaser; we develop an analytic method to obtain the steady-state solution of the master equation governing the time evolution of the cavity field. We illustrate this method with a simple example and present results for the photon distribution and purity of the steady state of the coherently pumped micromaser.

Physical Review A•Aug 26, 2005•2 citations

Generation of nonclassical radiation in the one-atom maser

HERBERT WALTHER

Recent experiments with the one-atom maser1 have demonstrated that it is possible to study the interaction of single Rydberg atoms with a single quantized mode2 of a resonant electromagnetic field in a super conducting cavity. The quality factor is high enough to observe the periodic energy exchange between the atom and field. The statistical and discrete nature of the photon field leads to new dynamic characteristics such as collapse and revival in the Rabi nu tation.3 Most of the observed effects are purely quantum features.4

•May 21, 1990•0 citations

Theory of the Rydberg-atom one-photon micromaser

N. Nayak, D. Das

The paper deals with the micromaser theory in which the cavity-reservoir coupling is considered during the atom-field interaction. The evolution of the cavity radiation when it contains no atom is included as usual. This brings out the dependence of the photon statistics on the cavity leakage. The possibilities of generating a Fock state of the radiation field are analyzed.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1993•4 citations

Theory of the micromaser

Marlan O. Scully, Muhammad Suhail Zubairy

The development of a single-atom maser or a micromaser allows a detailed study of the atom–field interaction. The situation realized is very close to the ideal case of a single two-level atom interacting with a single-mode quantized field as treated in Section 6.2. In a micromaser a stream of two-level atoms is injected into a superconducting cavity with a high quality factor. The injection rate can be such that only one atom is present inside the resonator at any time. Due to the high quality factor of the cavity, the radiation decay time is much larger than the characteristic time of the atom–field interaction, which is given by the inverse of the single-photon Rabi frequency. Therefore, a field is built up inside the cavity when the mean time between the atoms injected into the cavity is shorter than the cavity decay time. A micromaser, therefore, allows sustained oscillations with less than one atom on the average in the cavity. The realization of a single-atom maser or a micromaser has been made possible due to the enormous progress in the construction of superconducting cavities together with the laser preparation of highly excited atoms called Rydberg atoms. The quality factor of the superconducting cavities is high enough for periodic energy exchanges between atom and cavity field to be observed. The interesting properties of the Rydberg atoms make them ideal for micromasers. In Rydberg atoms the probability of induced transitions between adjacent states becomes very large and scales as n 4 , where n denotes the principle quantum number.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Sep 4, 1997•1 citation
If an atom interacts with a classical field and quantized mode simultaneously, exchange by photons between the different components of the field is possible. Such systems can be exploited in order to generate radiation in the quantized mode and can be considered as a micromaser with optical pumping. The process of generation of the quantized field and the quantum-statistical characteristics of this radiation are under investigation.
Detailed theoretical and experimental study of the atom–field interaction starting from first principles was made possible by the realization of the single-atom micromaser. The situation realized in a micromaser is very close to the ideal case of a single two-level atom interacting with a single quantized mode of a superconducting cavity. This system's ability to coherently transfer quantum states between atoms and photons made it relevant in the context of quantum computation as well. Although considerable work, both theoretical and experimental, has been devoted to this system, with a few exceptions, most cases involved only non-coherent pumping. As a result, the density matrix describing the cavity field remained diagonal, preventing the appearance of coherences. Here, our goal is to provide a summary of the progress we made toward a comprehensive understanding of the features of the coherently pumped micromaser with special respect to coherences, which are central to quantum information processing.
A detailed theoretical and experimental study of the atom-field interaction starting from first principles was made possible by the realization of the single-atom micromaser. The situation is very close to the ideal case of a single two-level atom interacting with a single quantized mode of a superconducting cavity. In spite of the considerable amount of work devoted to the study of the micromaser, it still remains to be established how the system behaves under coherent pumping. We present a comprehensive study of the coherently pumped micromaser; we develop an analytic method to obtain the steady-state solution of the master equation governing the time evolution of the cavity field. We illustrate this method with a simple example and present results for the photon distribution and purity of the steady state of the coherently pumped micromaser.
Recent experiments with the one-atom maser1 have demonstrated that it is possible to study the interaction of single Rydberg atoms with a single quantized mode2 of a resonant electromagnetic field in a super conducting cavity. The quality factor is high enough to observe the periodic energy exchange between the atom and field. The statistical and discrete nature of the photon field leads to new dynamic characteristics such as collapse and revival in the Rabi nu tation.3 Most of the observed effects are purely quantum features.4
The development of a single-atom maser or a micromaser allows a detailed study of the atom–field interaction. The situation realized is very close to the ideal case of a single two-level atom interacting with a single-mode quantized field as treated in Section 6.2. In a micromaser a stream of two-level atoms is injected into a superconducting cavity with a high quality factor. The injection rate can be such that only one atom is present inside the resonator at any time. Due to the high quality factor of the cavity, the radiation decay time is much larger than the characteristic time of the atom–field interaction, which is given by the inverse of the single-photon Rabi frequency. Therefore, a field is built up inside the cavity when the mean time between the atoms injected into the cavity is shorter than the cavity decay time. A micromaser, therefore, allows sustained oscillations with less than one atom on the average in the cavity. The realization of a single-atom maser or a micromaser has been made possible due to the enormous progress in the construction of superconducting cavities together with the laser preparation of highly excited atoms called Rydberg atoms. The quality factor of the superconducting cavities is high enough for periodic energy exchanges between atom and cavity field to be observed. The interesting properties of the Rydberg atoms make them ideal for micromasers. In Rydberg atoms the probability of induced transitions between adjacent states becomes very large and scales as n 4 , where n denotes the principle quantum number.