Abstract We investigate the quantum dynamics of two defect centers in solids, which are coupled by vacuum-induced dipole–dipole interactions. When the interaction between defects and phonons is taken into account, the two coupled electron–phonon systems make up two equivalent multilevel atoms. By making Born–Markov and rotating wave approximations, we derive a master equation describing the dynamics of the coupled multilevel atoms. The results indicate the concepts of subradiant and superradiant states can be applied to these systems and the population transfer process presents different behaviors from those of the two dipolar-coupled two-level atoms due to the participation of phonons.
Abstract We investigate the quantum dynamics of two defect centers in solids, which are coupled by vacuum-induced dipole–dipole interactions. When the interaction between defects and phonons is taken into account, the two coupled electron–phonon systems make up two equivalent multilevel atoms. By making Born–Markov and rotating wave approximations, we derive a master equation describing the dynamics of the coupled multilevel atoms. The results indicate the concepts of subradiant and superradiant states can be applied to these systems and the population transfer process presents different behaviors from those of the two dipolar-coupled two-level atoms due to the participation of phonons.
Abstract Understanding defect-phonon interactions in solid-state devices is crucial for improving our current knowledge of quantum platforms. In this work, we develop first-principles calculations for a defect composed of two spin- 1 / 2 particles that interact with phonon modes in a one-dimensional lattice. We follow a bottom-up approach that begins with a dipolar magnetic interaction to ultimately derive the spectral density function and time-local master equation that describes the open dynamics of the defect. We provide theoretical and numerical analysis for the non-Markovian (NM) features of the defect-phonon dynamics induced by a pure dephasing channel acting on the Bell basis. Finally, we analyze two measures of NM based on the canonical rates and Coherence, shedding more light on the role of the spectral density function and temperature; and envisioning experimental realizations.
Interacting dipolar two-level systems form a special class of qubits that interact with a cavity in a particular way. We first prove that the Markovian dynamics of one 1/2-spin in interaction with a quantised magnetic field from a multi-mode cavity at thermal equilibrium is equivalent to a two-level atom interacting in the dipole approximation with the electric field of the cavity. We then use the Born-Markov approximation to study the dynamics of two spins interacting through the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg coupling in the same environment. By solving the GKSL equation, we find the exact expression of the density matrix of the system, with the off-diagonal coherence decay time and spin relaxation time. The concurrence for the stationary state is explicitly derived for any kind of initial state and the role of the singlet state is brought to light. The temporal evolution of the concurrence is numerically computed for different initial states, the phenomenon of sudden death and revival of the entanglement is observed for this dynamics. A detailed analysis of the sudden death and revival of the concurrence is conducted for Werner states, with new analytical results obtained thanks to the solution of the GKSL equation. We finally derive the equations and the stationary concurrence for the XXZ coupling.
Enhanced and inhibited spontaneous emission of two close atoms in an overdamped cavity is studied taking into account the dipole-dipole interaction between them. The system is described in the minimal-coupling scheme and the advantages of this choice for our problem are discussed. The dynamics is investigated using both quantum Langevin equations and Master equation techniques. This last approach allows one to describe the behavior of the atoms plus field system as a one-step process. The case in which both atoms are initially in their excited state and the mode is in its vacuum state is discussed in some detail. It is shown that, different from what occurs to two close atoms in free space, in an overdamped cavity dipolar interaction may modify the decay rate. In particular, we find that the two transitions the atomic system performs to reach its equilibrium configuration can have different rates, and that for a suitable choice of the detuning between the cavity mode and the unperturbed atomic frequency, one of the transitions occurs at an enhanced rate while the second is inhibited.
The quantum dynamics of many-electron spin systems is investigated using a reduced-density-matrix description. Applications of interest include trapped atomic systems in optical lattices, semiconductor quantum dots, and vacancy defect centers in solids. Complimentary time-domain (equation-of-motion) and frequency-domain (resolvent-operator) formulations are self-consistently developed. The general non-perturbative and non-Markovian formulations provide a fundamental framework for systematic evaluations of corrections to the standard Born (lowest-order-perturbation) and Markov (short-memory-time) approximations. Particular attention is given to decoherence and relaxation processes, together with spectral-line broadening phenomena, that are induced by interactions of many-electron spin systems with photons, phonons, nuclear spins, external electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields. Within the framework of a quantum-open-systems (reduced-density-operator) approach, these processes are treated either as coherent interactions or as environmental interactions. The environmental interactions are incorporated by means of the general expressions that are derived for the time-domain and frequency-domain Liouville-space self-energy operators, for which the tetradic-matrix elements are explicitly evaluated in the diagonal-resolvent, lowest-order, and Markov (short-memory time) approximations.
Decoherence, known as the consequence of the coupling of any quantum system to its environment, causes information loss in the system and represents a major problem in the physical realization of quantum computers [1]. Decoherence-Free States (DFS) are considered as a possible solution to this problem. A set of trapped cold atoms placed in a DFS state will be immune against decoherence due to spontaneous emission. However, because of dipole-dipole interactions between atoms, induced dephasing effects are likely to destroy the coherence and drive the system out of its DFS [1, 2]. In this work, we study numerically the dynamics of a set of two-level atoms initially in a DFS with respect to dissipative processes by solving the master equation including both dissipative dynamics and dipole dipole interactions. We fo- cus our attention on the infuence of dipolar coupling on the radiated energy rate and coherence of the system as in [3]. In particular, by averaging over many realizations of close randomly distributed atomic positions, we show the formation of a superradiant-like pulse and we study its properties as a function of the dipolar coupling strength. [1] D. A. Lidar & K. B. Whaley, Lectures Notes in Phys., Vol. 622, p83-120, Springer (2003). [2] M. Gross & S. Haroche, Physics reports 93, 301-396 (1982). [3] W. Feng, Y. Li & S-Y. Zhu, Phys. Rev. A 88, 033856 (2013).
Quantum cooperativity is evident in light-matter platforms where quantum emitter ensembles are interfaced with confined optical modes and are coupled via the ubiquitous electromagnetic quantum vacuum. Cooperative aspects such as dipole-dipole interactions and subradiance find applications in the design of nanoscale coherent light sources and highly-reflective quantum metasurfaces made up of hundreds of optically trapped atoms, in the implementation of topological quantum optics on subwavelength arrays of emitters, in quantum metrology and quantum information. The quick bursts of radiation from a collection of quasi-indistiguishable emitters provides an alternative approach to standard lasers by introducing superradiant lasers operating at extremely low intracavity power. This tutorial provides a set of theoretical tools to tackle the behavior responsible for the onset of cooperativity in light-matter systems by extending open quantum system dynamics methods, such as the master equation and quantum Langevin equations, to electron-photon interactions in strongly coupled and correlated quantum emitters ensembles. These analytical approaches are then also extended to frequency disordered or vibronically coupled quantum emitter ensembles with wide relevance ranging from atoms in optical lattices, quantum dots in solid state environments or molecular quantum systems.