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

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Superradiant and subradiant light emission from entangled free electrons

Aviv Karnieli, Nicholas Rivera, Ido E. Kaminer, Ady Arie

Published Jan 1, 2021• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We show how quantum correlations such as entanglement give rise to a new quantum regime of superradaince and subradiance from free-electrons, demonstrating that light emission can be sensitive to the quantum state of many-body wavefunctions.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_qels.2021.fm3n.7

Related papers

Superradiance and Subradiance due to Quantum Interference of Entangled Free Electrons

Aviv Karnieli, Nicholas Rivera, Ady Arie +1 more

When multiple quantum emitters radiate, their emission rate may be enhanced or suppressed due to collective interference in a process known as super- or subradiance. Such processes are well known to occur also in light emission from free electrons, known as coherent cathodoluminescence. Unlike atomic systems, free electrons have an unbounded energy spectrum, and, thus, all their emission mechanisms rely on electron recoil, in addition to the classical properties of the dielectric medium. To date, all experimental and theoretical studies of super- and subradiance from free electrons assumed only classical correlations between particles. However, dependence on quantum correlations, such as entanglement between free electrons, has not been studied. Recent advances in coherent shaping of free-electron wave functions motivate the investigation of such quantum regimes of super- and subradiance. In this Letter, we show how a pair of coincident path-entangled electrons can demonstrate either super- or subradiant light emission, depending on the two-particle wave function. By choosing different free-electron Bell states, the spectrum and emission pattern of the light can be reshaped, in a manner that cannot be accounted for by a classical mixed state. We show these results for light emission in any optical medium and discuss their generalization to many-body quantum states. Our findings suggest that light emission can be sensitive to the explicit quantum state of the emitting matter wave and possibly serve as a nondestructive measurement scheme for measuring the quantum state of many-body systems.

arXiv:2011.02548•Physical Review Letters•Aug 5, 2021•45 citations

Double-superradiant cathodoluminescence

Alexey A. Gorlach, Ori Reinhardt, Andrea Pizzi +4 more

There exist two families of superradiance phenomena: relying on free electrons or on correlated emission by ensembles of atoms. Here we investigate emission from ensembles of atoms driven by coherently shaped free electrons. This interaction creates superradiance emerging from both the atoms' and the electrons' coherence---with emission intensity that scales quadratically in both the number of atoms and number of electrons. This phenomenon enables electrons to become probes of quantum correlations in matter, with high temporal and spatial resolution.

arXiv:2209.05876•Physical Review A•Feb 28, 2024•6 citations

Single-Photon Superradiance and Subradiance as Collective Emission from Symmetric and Anti-Symmetric States

N. Piovella, Stefano Olivares

Recent works have shown that collective single photon spontaneous emission from an ensemble of N resonant two-level atoms is a rich field of study. Superradiance describes emission from a completely symmetric state of N atoms, with a single excited atom prepared with a given phase, for instance imprinted by an external laser. Instead, subradiance is associated with the emission from the remaining N−1 asymmetric states, with a collective decay rate less than the single-atom value. Here, we discuss the properties of the orthonormal basis of symmetric and asymmetric states and the entanglement properties of superradiant and subradiant states.

arXiv:2307.14667•Symmetry•Sep 25, 2023•1 citation

Many-Body Super- and Subradiance in Ordered Atomic Arrays

Alec Douglas, Lin Su, Michal Szurek +7 more

When quantum emitters couple indistinguishably to light, they can synchronize into a collective light matter system with radiative properties profoundly different from those of independent particles. To date, the resulting collective effects have largely been confined to point like or homogeneous ensembles. Here, we open access to a qualitatively new collective regime by realizing geometrically ordered, spatially extended atom arrays with subwavelength spacing. This establishes a fundamentally new platform in which collective emission is no longer confined to a single Dicke mode but instead emerges from an ordered network of photon mediated interactions. We find that 2D atom arrays undergo strong super and subradiant emission. Despite subwavelength spacing, we achieve site resolved imaging and directly observe the buildup of spatial correlations, demonstrating the transformation of cooperative decay into a strongly correlated many-body process. We observe extensive scaling of superradiance, uncover superradiant revivals, and reveal the ferromagnetic nature of superradiance and the antiferromagnetic nature of subradiance. Our results realize a novel programmable platform for exploring and utilizing dissipative many-body quantum physics, opening new possibilities for photon capture, storage, and atom photon entanglement.

quant-pharXiv:2604.11795•Apr 14, 2026•0 citations

Single Photon Subradiance: Quantum Control of Spontaneous Emission and Ultrafast Readout

Marlan O. Scully

Recent work has shown that collective single photon emission from an ensemble of resonate two-level atoms, i.e., single photon superradiance, is a rich field of study. The present Letter addresses the flip side of superradiance, i.e., subradiance. Single photon subradiant states are potentially stable against collective spontaneous emission and can have ultrafast readout. In particular it is shown how many atom collective effects provide a new way to control spontaneous emission by preparing and switching between subradiant and superradiant states.

arXiv:1505.03073•Physical Review Letters•Dec 8, 2015•176 citations

Generating long-lived entangled states with free-space collective spontaneous emission

Alan C. Santos, A. Cidrim, Celso J. Villas-Bôas +2 more

Considering the paradigmatic case of a cloud of two-level atoms interacting through common vacuum modes, we show how cooperative spontaneous emission, which is at the origin of superradiance, leads the system to long-lived entangled states at late times. These subradiant modes are characterized by an entanglement between all particles, independently of their geometrical configuration. While there is no threshold on the interaction strength necessary to entangle all particles, stronger interactions lead to longer-lived entanglement.

arXiv:2110.15033•Physical Review A•May 20, 2022•22 citations
When multiple quantum emitters radiate, their emission rate may be enhanced or suppressed due to collective interference in a process known as super- or subradiance. Such processes are well known to occur also in light emission from free electrons, known as coherent cathodoluminescence. Unlike atomic systems, free electrons have an unbounded energy spectrum, and, thus, all their emission mechanisms rely on electron recoil, in addition to the classical properties of the dielectric medium. To date, all experimental and theoretical studies of super- and subradiance from free electrons assumed only classical correlations between particles. However, dependence on quantum correlations, such as entanglement between free electrons, has not been studied. Recent advances in coherent shaping of free-electron wave functions motivate the investigation of such quantum regimes of super- and subradiance. In this Letter, we show how a pair of coincident path-entangled electrons can demonstrate either super- or subradiant light emission, depending on the two-particle wave function. By choosing different free-electron Bell states, the spectrum and emission pattern of the light can be reshaped, in a manner that cannot be accounted for by a classical mixed state. We show these results for light emission in any optical medium and discuss their generalization to many-body quantum states. Our findings suggest that light emission can be sensitive to the explicit quantum state of the emitting matter wave and possibly serve as a nondestructive measurement scheme for measuring the quantum state of many-body systems.
There exist two families of superradiance phenomena: relying on free electrons or on correlated emission by ensembles of atoms. Here we investigate emission from ensembles of atoms driven by coherently shaped free electrons. This interaction creates superradiance emerging from both the atoms' and the electrons' coherence---with emission intensity that scales quadratically in both the number of atoms and number of electrons. This phenomenon enables electrons to become probes of quantum correlations in matter, with high temporal and spatial resolution.
Recent works have shown that collective single photon spontaneous emission from an ensemble of N resonant two-level atoms is a rich field of study. Superradiance describes emission from a completely symmetric state of N atoms, with a single excited atom prepared with a given phase, for instance imprinted by an external laser. Instead, subradiance is associated with the emission from the remaining N−1 asymmetric states, with a collective decay rate less than the single-atom value. Here, we discuss the properties of the orthonormal basis of symmetric and asymmetric states and the entanglement properties of superradiant and subradiant states.
When quantum emitters couple indistinguishably to light, they can synchronize into a collective light matter system with radiative properties profoundly different from those of independent particles. To date, the resulting collective effects have largely been confined to point like or homogeneous ensembles. Here, we open access to a qualitatively new collective regime by realizing geometrically ordered, spatially extended atom arrays with subwavelength spacing. This establishes a fundamentally new platform in which collective emission is no longer confined to a single Dicke mode but instead emerges from an ordered network of photon mediated interactions. We find that 2D atom arrays undergo strong super and subradiant emission. Despite subwavelength spacing, we achieve site resolved imaging and directly observe the buildup of spatial correlations, demonstrating the transformation of cooperative decay into a strongly correlated many-body process. We observe extensive scaling of superradiance, uncover superradiant revivals, and reveal the ferromagnetic nature of superradiance and the antiferromagnetic nature of subradiance. Our results realize a novel programmable platform for exploring and utilizing dissipative many-body quantum physics, opening new possibilities for photon capture, storage, and atom photon entanglement.
Recent work has shown that collective single photon emission from an ensemble of resonate two-level atoms, i.e., single photon superradiance, is a rich field of study. The present Letter addresses the flip side of superradiance, i.e., subradiance. Single photon subradiant states are potentially stable against collective spontaneous emission and can have ultrafast readout. In particular it is shown how many atom collective effects provide a new way to control spontaneous emission by preparing and switching between subradiant and superradiant states.
Considering the paradigmatic case of a cloud of two-level atoms interacting through common vacuum modes, we show how cooperative spontaneous emission, which is at the origin of superradiance, leads the system to long-lived entangled states at late times. These subradiant modes are characterized by an entanglement between all particles, independently of their geometrical configuration. While there is no threshold on the interaction strength necessary to entangle all particles, stronger interactions lead to longer-lived entanglement.