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 Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Structure and dynamics in cavity quantum electrodynamics

Harry J. Kimble, Eugene Simon Polzik, Gerhard Rempe, Robert J. Thompson

Published May 10, 1992• 37 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

For the most part, quantum statistical processes in quantum optics are investigated in a weak-coupling regime, but it has become possible recently to realize experimentally optical systems for which the internal coupling coefficient g is comparable to the external dissipative rates. Within, this context, the subject of our investigation is the quantum dynamical processes for a small collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to a single mode of a high-finesse optical cavity. For this system, we record input-output characteristics for steady-state operation with 3 ⪝ N ⪝ 65 intracavity atoms and observe optical bistability for N⪞15 atoms.1

Related papers

Optical Physics with Finesse - Dissipative Quantum Dynamics for Atoms in a Cavity with R=0.9999984

Harry J. Kimble, Gerhard Rempe, Robert J. Thompson

While for the most part quantum statistical processes in quantum optics are investigated in a weak coupling regime, it has recently become possible to realize experimentally optical systems for which the internal coupling coefficient g is comparable to the external dissipative rates. Within this context the subject of our investigation is the quantum dynamical processes for a collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to a single mode of a high finesse optical cavity, Our particular experiment consists of a small collection of Cesium atoms (6S1/2, F = 4 → 6P3/2, F = 5 transition at 852nm) interacting with the TEM00 mode of a spherical mirror cavity. The critical technical advance for this work is the attainment of extremely low loss mirrors for high finesse (103 – 106) and hence long photon lifetime even in a small cavity.[1]

Nonlinear Optics•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations

Optical bistability and photon statistics in cavity quantum electrodynamics

Gerhard Rempe, Robert J. Thompson, Robert J. Brecha +2 more

The quantum statistical behavior of a small collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to the field of a high-finessse optical cavity is investigated. Input-output characteristics are recorded over the range 3\ensuremath{\lesssim}N\ensuremath{\lesssim}65, with bistability observed for N\ensuremath{\gtrsim}15 intracavity atoms and for a saturation photon number ${\mathit{n}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\simeq}0.8. For weak excitation the transmitted field exhibits photon antibunching as a nonclassical manifestation of state reduction and quantum interference with the magnitude of the nonclassical effects largely independent of N.

Physical Review Letters•Sep 23, 1991•345 citations

Dissipative Quantum Dynamics in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics

H. Jeff. Kimble, G. Rempe, R. J. Thompson +1 more

Of fundamental importance in quantum optics has been the investigation of the radiative coupling of a collection of atoms to the field of a resonant cavity1. Within this context we are conducting a research program to investigate the interaction of optically prepared two-state atoms with the fields of high finesse optical cavities. With regard to our specific observations, we have employed a sodium atomic beam apparatus to make direct spectroscopic measurements of the normal-mode splitting for the coupled oscillator system formed by the collective atomic polarization of N two-state atoms and a single mode of a resonator of finesse of approximately 2x10⁴. At the transition wavelength of 589 nm (³, S_(1/2), F = 2, m_F = 2→3 P_(3/2), m_F = 3 and for one of our spherical mirror standing-wave cavities, the relevant parameters for the system are as follows: transverse atomic decay rate γ_⊥ = 2πX5X10⁶/S, cavity damping rate K/γ⊥= 0.18, and single-atom coupling coefficient g/γ_⊥ = 0.2.

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics•Apr 1, 1992•1 citation

Cavity quantum electrodynamics with strong coupling in the optical domain

G. Rempe, R. J. Thompson, R. J. Brecha +1 more

The radiative properties of atoms inside an optical cavity can be dramatically changed with respect to those in free space. In the strong-coupling limit, the reversible dipole interaction between an atom and the cavity field dominates the irreversible decay resulting from spontaneous emission and cavity damping. In this limit the atom and field can no longer be regarded as separate quantities but instead form a composite dynamic system. To enhance the dipole coupling constant and increase the photon storage time, our experiments are performed with a small cavity 1 mm long, with a finesse of 8 × 104. On average, 0.4 photons are sufficient to saturate the resonance transition at 852 nm for the cesium atoms used, while the cooperativity parameter for a single atom is 2. Optical bistability is studied in this system over the range 3 < N < 65 atoms inside the cavity, with the semiclassical theory predicting bistability for N > 5. We report observations of manifestly quantum effects in this regime, including photon antibunching and sub-Poissonian photon statistics, with the magnitude of these nonclassical effects observed to be largely independent of the number of intracavity atoms.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1991•0 citations

Photon statistics for two-state atoms in an optical cavity

J. J. Kimble, Robert J. Brecha, Robert J. Thompson +1 more

While for the most part quantum statistical processes in quantum optics are investigated in a weak-coupling regime, it has recently become possible to realize experimentally systems for which the internal coupling coefficient g is comparable to the external dissipative rates. Within this context the subject of our investigation is the quantum dynamical processes for a collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to a single mode of a high finesse optical cavity. Our particular system consists of a collection of N~20 Cesium atoms (6S 1/2, f = 4– > 6P 3/2, f = 5 transition at 852 nm) interacting with the TEMoo mode of a spherical mirror cavity of finesse 4 × 104. Of principal importance are the single atom cooperativity parameter C1 = g 2/κγ and the saturation photon number no = g2/8γ 2, where (κ,γ) are the cavity and atomic decay rates. For our system, c1~1 and n0~0.5. In measurements of the joint probability of photoelectric detection we observe photon antibunching and sub-Poissonian photon statistics.1,2 An interpretation of our results in terms of quantum state reduction and interference in a dissipative dynamical setting is presented.2 We emphasize the decisive role played by the quantum fluctuations of a single atom (c1~1), which can result in a field of large variance even in the presence of N>1 atoms.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations

Continuous observation of quantum dynamics

Hideo Mabuchi

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document. Previous work in cavity quantum electrodynamics has focused principally on achieving the condition of strong coupling, such that the single-photon Rabi frequency for one atom in a cavity dominates the rates associated with all forms of dissipation and dephasing. Although strong coupling was convincingly demonstrated in these experiments, the use of thermal atomic beams as a source of atoms invariably limited the intracavity dwell time of any given atom to values marginally longer than the system's characteristic dynamical timescales. Accordingly, the observation of single-atom effects in these experiments required integration over the transits of many successive atoms through the optical resonator. In such ensemble-averaged experiments, the quantitative effects of dissipation and measurement could always be understood from the perspective of Master Equation formalisms. By contrast, our most recent work has incorporated laser cooling techniques to accomplish a thousand-fold increase in the dwell time of individual atoms while maintaining conditions of strong coupling. With this extreme separation of timescales, the effects of individual atoms on the cavity transmission can clearly be resolved. Moreover, detailed information on each individual atom's spatial trajectory through the cavity can be inferred from the time-varying amplitude and phase of the transmitted light. Understanding the exact nature of such correlations in real laboratory measurements requires not only a careful characterization of excess technical noise, but also an in-depth study of how (and when) aspects of continuous quantum measurement theory should properly be applied. This thesis primarily contains a detailed description of an experiment in which we used broadband heterodyne spectroscopy to record the complete time-evolution of interaction energy between one atom and a high-finesse optical cavity, during individual scattering events of [...] duration. With a characteristic interaction energy scale [...], we achieve a shot-noise limited measurement sensitivity [...] over a bandwidth that covers the dominant rates of variation in [...]. I also include two brief studies in quantum measurement theory, which highlight the significance of the experimental work for continuing research on conditional quantum dynamics. The first investigates quantum limits to broadband measurement of position and force, and the second proposes a novel trajectory-based approach to quantum system identification.

•Mar 17, 2006•1 citation
For the most part, quantum statistical processes in quantum optics are investigated in a weak-coupling regime, but it has become possible recently to realize experimentally optical systems for which the internal coupling coefficient g is comparable to the external dissipative rates. Within, this context, the subject of our investigation is the quantum dynamical processes for a small collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to a single mode of a high-finesse optical cavity. For this system, we record input-output characteristics for steady-state operation with 3 ⪝ N ⪝ 65 intracavity atoms and observe optical bistability for N⪞15 atoms.1
While for the most part quantum statistical processes in quantum optics are investigated in a weak coupling regime, it has recently become possible to realize experimentally optical systems for which the internal coupling coefficient g is comparable to the external dissipative rates. Within this context the subject of our investigation is the quantum dynamical processes for a collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to a single mode of a high finesse optical cavity, Our particular experiment consists of a small collection of Cesium atoms (6S1/2, F = 4 → 6P3/2, F = 5 transition at 852nm) interacting with the TEM00 mode of a spherical mirror cavity. The critical technical advance for this work is the attainment of extremely low loss mirrors for high finesse (103 – 106) and hence long photon lifetime even in a small cavity.[1]
The quantum statistical behavior of a small collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to the field of a high-finessse optical cavity is investigated. Input-output characteristics are recorded over the range 3\ensuremath{\lesssim}N\ensuremath{\lesssim}65, with bistability observed for N\ensuremath{\gtrsim}15 intracavity atoms and for a saturation photon number n0{\mathit{n}}_{0}n0​\ensuremath{\simeq}0.8. For weak excitation the transmitted field exhibits photon antibunching as a nonclassical manifestation of state reduction and quantum interference with the magnitude of the nonclassical effects largely independent of N.
Of fundamental importance in quantum optics has been the investigation of the radiative coupling of a collection of atoms to the field of a resonant cavity1. Within this context we are conducting a research program to investigate the interaction of optically prepared two-state atoms with the fields of high finesse optical cavities. With regard to our specific observations, we have employed a sodium atomic beam apparatus to make direct spectroscopic measurements of the normal-mode splitting for the coupled oscillator system formed by the collective atomic polarization of N two-state atoms and a single mode of a resonator of finesse of approximately 2x10⁴. At the transition wavelength of 589 nm (³, S_(1/2), F = 2, m_F = 2→3 P_(3/2), m_F = 3 and for one of our spherical mirror standing-wave cavities, the relevant parameters for the system are as follows: transverse atomic decay rate γ_⊥ = 2πX5X10⁶/S, cavity damping rate K/γ⊥= 0.18, and single-atom coupling coefficient g/γ_⊥ = 0.2.
The radiative properties of atoms inside an optical cavity can be dramatically changed with respect to those in free space. In the strong-coupling limit, the reversible dipole interaction between an atom and the cavity field dominates the irreversible decay resulting from spontaneous emission and cavity damping. In this limit the atom and field can no longer be regarded as separate quantities but instead form a composite dynamic system. To enhance the dipole coupling constant and increase the photon storage time, our experiments are performed with a small cavity 1 mm long, with a finesse of 8 × 104. On average, 0.4 photons are sufficient to saturate the resonance transition at 852 nm for the cesium atoms used, while the cooperativity parameter for a single atom is 2. Optical bistability is studied in this system over the range 3 < N < 65 atoms inside the cavity, with the semiclassical theory predicting bistability for N > 5. We report observations of manifestly quantum effects in this regime, including photon antibunching and sub-Poissonian photon statistics, with the magnitude of these nonclassical effects observed to be largely independent of the number of intracavity atoms.
While for the most part quantum statistical processes in quantum optics are investigated in a weak-coupling regime, it has recently become possible to realize experimentally systems for which the internal coupling coefficient g is comparable to the external dissipative rates. Within this context the subject of our investigation is the quantum dynamical processes for a collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to a single mode of a high finesse optical cavity. Our particular system consists of a collection of N~20 Cesium atoms (6S 1/2, f = 4– > 6P 3/2, f = 5 transition at 852 nm) interacting with the TEMoo mode of a spherical mirror cavity of finesse 4 × 104. Of principal importance are the single atom cooperativity parameter C1 = g 2/κγ and the saturation photon number no = g2/8γ 2, where (κ,γ) are the cavity and atomic decay rates. For our system, c1~1 and n0~0.5. In measurements of the joint probability of photoelectric detection we observe photon antibunching and sub-Poissonian photon statistics.1,2 An interpretation of our results in terms of quantum state reduction and interference in a dissipative dynamical setting is presented.2 We emphasize the decisive role played by the quantum fluctuations of a single atom (c1~1), which can result in a field of large variance even in the presence of N>1 atoms.
NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document. Previous work in cavity quantum electrodynamics has focused principally on achieving the condition of strong coupling, such that the single-photon Rabi frequency for one atom in a cavity dominates the rates associated with all forms of dissipation and dephasing. Although strong coupling was convincingly demonstrated in these experiments, the use of thermal atomic beams as a source of atoms invariably limited the intracavity dwell time of any given atom to values marginally longer than the system's characteristic dynamical timescales. Accordingly, the observation of single-atom effects in these experiments required integration over the transits of many successive atoms through the optical resonator. In such ensemble-averaged experiments, the quantitative effects of dissipation and measurement could always be understood from the perspective of Master Equation formalisms. By contrast, our most recent work has incorporated laser cooling techniques to accomplish a thousand-fold increase in the dwell time of individual atoms while maintaining conditions of strong coupling. With this extreme separation of timescales, the effects of individual atoms on the cavity transmission can clearly be resolved. Moreover, detailed information on each individual atom's spatial trajectory through the cavity can be inferred from the time-varying amplitude and phase of the transmitted light. Understanding the exact nature of such correlations in real laboratory measurements requires not only a careful characterization of excess technical noise, but also an in-depth study of how (and when) aspects of continuous quantum measurement theory should properly be applied. This thesis primarily contains a detailed description of an experiment in which we used broadband heterodyne spectroscopy to record the complete time-evolution of interaction energy between one atom and a high-finesse optical cavity, during individual scattering events of [...] duration. With a characteristic interaction energy scale [...], we achieve a shot-noise limited measurement sensitivity [...] over a bandwidth that covers the dominant rates of variation in [...]. I also include two brief studies in quantum measurement theory, which highlight the significance of the experimental work for continuing research on conditional quantum dynamics. The first investigates quantum limits to broadband measurement of position and force, and the second proposes a novel trajectory-based approach to quantum system identification.