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

Gravitational decoherence effects on spontaneous emission of atomic ensembles in timed Dicke state

V. Stefanov, I. A. Siutsou, Dmitri S. Mogilevtsev

Published May 29, 2019• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Here we discuss an effect of gravitational decoherence due to time dilation on the collective radiation dynamics of atomic system in timed single-photon Dicke states. We show that a photon absorbed by the stationary system of randomly placed stationary atoms is no more spontaneously emitted in the direction of the impinging photon. Time-dilation effect leads to broadening of the angular distribution of the emitted photon. Even for the spherically symmetric gravitational field, the broadening has specific non-symmetrical character.

Related papers

Gravitational dephasing in spontaneous emission of atomic ensembles in timed Dicke states

V. Stefanov, I. A. Siutsou, Dmitri S. Mogilevtsev

Here we discuss an effect of dephasing induced by a weak gravitational field on the collective radiation dynamics of an atomic system in timed single-photon Dicke states. We show that a photon absorbed by the stationary system of randomly placed stationary atoms is no longer spontaneously emitted in the direction of the impinging photon. Gravity leads to broadening of the angular distribution of emission.

arXiv:1905.12301•Physical review. D/Physical review. D.•Feb 21, 2020•4 citations

Gravitational time dilation induced decoherence in spontaneous emission

Dong Xie, Chunling Xu, An Min Wang

We investigate decoherence of quantum superpositions induced by gravitational time dilation and spontaneous emission between two atomic levels. It has been shown that gravitational time dilation can be a universal decoherence source by Pikovski et al. Here, we consider the decoherence induced by the gravitational time dilation only in the situation of spontaneous emission. We obtain the analytical results of the coherence of particle’s position state. Then, we obtain that the coherence of particle’s position state depends on reference frame because the time dilation changes the distinguishability of emitted photons from two positions of particle in different reference frames. For observing the decoherence effect induced by the gravitational time dilation, time-delayed feedback can be utilized to increase the decoherence of particle’s superposition state.

arXiv:1511.00001•Modern Physics Letters B•Jun 20, 2017•0 citations

Single-photon modulation by the collective emission of an atomic chain

Zeyang Liao, Muhammad Suhail Zubairy

We study the collective spontaneous emission of a linear atomic chain excited by a single photon. The interaction between the atoms and the common vacuum field can significantly change the eigenenergy and the spontaneous emission rate of the system. Due to the dipole-dipole interactions, the system prepared in a single-photon timed Dicke state is the superposition of superradiant and subradiant eigenstates that can have a nonexponential decay dynamics. We can tune the frequency and linewidth of the superradiant and subradiant emission from a timed Dicke state by changing the direction of the atomic dipole moment or the atomic separation. In addition, the emission direction of the superradiant and subradiant photons also depends on the polarization of the atoms.

Physical Review A•Nov 3, 2014•17 citations

Gravitational effects on a dissipative two-level atom in the weak-field regime

Kaito Kashiwagi, Akira Matsumura

We investigate the dissipative dynamics of a two-level atom in a weak gravitational field. Using the Feynman--Vernon influence functional formalism, we derive a quantum master equation describing the two-level atom interacting with a scalar field in a Newtonian gravitational field, and compute the energy dissipation rate of the atom. We find that the spontaneous emission rate (the dissipation rate in vacuum) is modified by the gravitational field. Specifically, this modification depends on the atom's dipole, the position of the atom relative to the source of the gravitational field, and the frequency of the scalar radiation emitted by the atom. Furthermore, we identify the parameter regimes in which the spontaneous emission rate is enhanced or suppressed by gravity. We also discuss how the modification arises from time dilation and dipole radiation in a weak gravitational field. These findings provide a theoretical basis for exploring gravitational effects in open quantum systems.

quant-pharXiv:2602.01715•Feb 3, 2026

Dynamical Evolution of Correlated Spontaneous Emission of a Single Photon from a Uniformly Excited Cloud of N Atoms

Anatoly A. Svidzinsky, Juntao Chang, Marlan O. Scully

We study the correlated spontaneous emission from a dense spherical cloud of N atoms uniformly excited by absorption of a single photon. We find that the decay of such a state depends on the relation between an effective Rabi frequency Omega proportional square root N and the time of photon flight through the cloud R/c. If OmegaR/c<1 the state exponentially decays with rate Omega(2)R/c and the state lifetime is greater than R/c. In the opposite limit OmegaR/c>>1, the coupled atom-radiation system oscillates between the collective Dicke state (with no photons) and the atomic ground state (with one photon) with frequency Omega while decaying at a rate c/R.

arXiv:0804.3767•Physical Review Letters•Apr 22, 2008•157 citations

Quantum time dilation in a gravitational field

Jerzy Paczos, Kacper Dębski, Piotr T. Grochowski +2 more

According to relativity, the reading of an ideal clock is interpreted as the elapsed proper time along its classical trajectory through spacetime. In contrast, quantum theory allows the association of many simultaneous trajectories with a single quantum clock, each weighted appropriately. Here, we investigate how the superposition principle affects the gravitational time dilation observed by a simple clock – a decaying two-level atom. Placing such an atom in a superposition of positions enables us to analyze a quantum contribution to a classical time dilation manifest in spontaneous emission. In particular, we show that the emission rate of an atom prepared in a coherent superposition of separated wave packets in a gravitational field is different from the emission rate of an atom in a classical mixture of these packets, which gives rise to a quantum gravitational time dilation effect. We demonstrate that this nonclassical effect also manifests in a fractional frequency shift of the internal energy of the atom that is within the resolution of current atomic clocks. In addition, we show the effect of spatial coherence on the atom's emission spectrum.

arXiv:2204.10609•Quantum•May 7, 2024•10 citations
Here we discuss an effect of gravitational decoherence due to time dilation on the collective radiation dynamics of atomic system in timed single-photon Dicke states. We show that a photon absorbed by the stationary system of randomly placed stationary atoms is no more spontaneously emitted in the direction of the impinging photon. Time-dilation effect leads to broadening of the angular distribution of the emitted photon. Even for the spherically symmetric gravitational field, the broadening has specific non-symmetrical character.
We investigate decoherence of quantum superpositions induced by gravitational time dilation and spontaneous emission between two atomic levels. It has been shown that gravitational time dilation can be a universal decoherence source by Pikovski et al. Here, we consider the decoherence induced by the gravitational time dilation only in the situation of spontaneous emission. We obtain the analytical results of the coherence of particle’s position state. Then, we obtain that the coherence of particle’s position state depends on reference frame because the time dilation changes the distinguishability of emitted photons from two positions of particle in different reference frames. For observing the decoherence effect induced by the gravitational time dilation, time-delayed feedback can be utilized to increase the decoherence of particle’s superposition state.
We study the collective spontaneous emission of a linear atomic chain excited by a single photon. The interaction between the atoms and the common vacuum field can significantly change the eigenenergy and the spontaneous emission rate of the system. Due to the dipole-dipole interactions, the system prepared in a single-photon timed Dicke state is the superposition of superradiant and subradiant eigenstates that can have a nonexponential decay dynamics. We can tune the frequency and linewidth of the superradiant and subradiant emission from a timed Dicke state by changing the direction of the atomic dipole moment or the atomic separation. In addition, the emission direction of the superradiant and subradiant photons also depends on the polarization of the atoms.
We investigate the dissipative dynamics of a two-level atom in a weak gravitational field. Using the Feynman--Vernon influence functional formalism, we derive a quantum master equation describing the two-level atom interacting with a scalar field in a Newtonian gravitational field, and compute the energy dissipation rate of the atom. We find that the spontaneous emission rate (the dissipation rate in vacuum) is modified by the gravitational field. Specifically, this modification depends on the atom's dipole, the position of the atom relative to the source of the gravitational field, and the frequency of the scalar radiation emitted by the atom. Furthermore, we identify the parameter regimes in which the spontaneous emission rate is enhanced or suppressed by gravity. We also discuss how the modification arises from time dilation and dipole radiation in a weak gravitational field. These findings provide a theoretical basis for exploring gravitational effects in open quantum systems.
We study the correlated spontaneous emission from a dense spherical cloud of N atoms uniformly excited by absorption of a single photon. We find that the decay of such a state depends on the relation between an effective Rabi frequency Omega proportional square root N and the time of photon flight through the cloud R/c. If OmegaR/c<1 the state exponentially decays with rate Omega(2)R/c and the state lifetime is greater than R/c. In the opposite limit OmegaR/c>>1, the coupled atom-radiation system oscillates between the collective Dicke state (with no photons) and the atomic ground state (with one photon) with frequency Omega while decaying at a rate c/R.
According to relativity, the reading of an ideal clock is interpreted as the elapsed proper time along its classical trajectory through spacetime. In contrast, quantum theory allows the association of many simultaneous trajectories with a single quantum clock, each weighted appropriately. Here, we investigate how the superposition principle affects the gravitational time dilation observed by a simple clock – a decaying two-level atom. Placing such an atom in a superposition of positions enables us to analyze a quantum contribution to a classical time dilation manifest in spontaneous emission. In particular, we show that the emission rate of an atom prepared in a coherent superposition of separated wave packets in a gravitational field is different from the emission rate of an atom in a classical mixture of these packets, which gives rise to a quantum gravitational time dilation effect. We demonstrate that this nonclassical effect also manifests in a fractional frequency shift of the internal energy of the atom that is within the resolution of current atomic clocks. In addition, we show the effect of spatial coherence on the atom's emission spectrum.