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

Frontiers in Physics

Enhancement of the two-photon blockade effect via Van der Waals interaction

Kui Hou, Zhendong Zhang, Chengjie Zhu, Yaping Yang

Published Sep 15, 2022• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the influence of the Van der Waals interaction on the two-photon blockade phenomenon with the corresponding photon correlation functions g(2)(0) > 1 and g(3)(0) < 1 in a two-atom cavity-QED system, where two three-level ladder-type atoms are coherently driven by a pumping field and a coupling field simultaneously. Choosing a specific frequency of the coupling field, we show the energy splitting phenomenon caused by electromagnetically induced transparency. Correspondingly, the two-photon blockade phenomenon can be achieved near the two-photon resonant frequency. Using the Van der Waals interaction between the Rydberg states of the two atoms, we also show that the two-photon blockade can be improved when two atoms radiate in-phase or out-of-phase. As a result, two photons leak from the cavity simultaneously, but the third photon is blockaded. These results presented in this study hold potential applications in manipulating photon states and generating nonclassical light sources.

DOI
10.3389/fphy.2022.979427

Related papers

Electromagnetic field induced strong two photon blockade with hyperradiant behavior

W. Li, Chengjie Zhu, Yaping Yang

We theoretically study the electromagnetic field controlled photon correlation and radiation properties in a two-atom-cavity quantum electrodynamic (QED) system with different atom-cavity coupling strengths. When two three-level atoms are coherently driven by a probe field and a strong control field, forming a ladder type electromagnetically induced transparency configuration, there exist four different excitation pathways via the two photon processes, yielding four different frequencies for realizing two photon blockades. Carefully choosing the intensity of the control field, resonant single-photon and two-photon excitation can be achieved at the same probe field frequency. Thus, two photon blockade phenomenon can be significantly improved and the collective radiation behavior becomes superradiance or even hyperradiance. Our system presented here can be considered to be a converter of a weak coherent light to two correlated photons.

Optics Express•Nov 24, 2021•6 citations

Manipulation and improvement of multiphoton blockade in a cavity-QED system with two cascade three-level atoms

Ji-Zi Lin, Kui Hou, Chengjie Zhu +1 more

We present a study of manipulating and improving the multiphoton blockade phenomenon in a single-mode cavity with two cascade three-level atoms. Using an external control field, we show that the two-photon blockade can be changed to the three-photon blockade by just increasing the control field Rabi frequency when two atoms radiate in-phase. In the case of out-of-phase radiations, we show that the three-photon blockade phenomenon can be significantly improved with an increased mean photon number when the control field is present. We also show that the optical switching from the three-photon blockade $[{g}^{(2)}(0)>1$ and ${g}^{(3)}(0)<1]$ to the super-Poissonian field $[{g}^{(2)}(0)>1$ and ${g}^{(3)}(0)>1]$ can be accomplished by increasing the control field Rabi frequency. The results presented in this work provide potential applications in quantum communication and quantum networking.

arXiv:1811.11406•Physical Review A•May 30, 2019•40 citations

Strong photon antibunching and photon pair emission in a two-atom cavity QED system with van der Waals interaction

Z. Y. Yu, J. P. Xu, C. J. Zhu +2 more

We investigate the generation of strong antibunching photons/photon pairs in a two-atom cavity QED system leveraging interatomic van der Waals (vdW) interaction. We show that the vdW interaction shifts the energy of double excited state, enabling the suppression of two-photon excitation via destructive interference in a diamond configuration. This leads to antibunching photon emission with extremely high purity. Furthermore, by tuning the vdW interaction strength, the conditions for conventional and unconventional photon blockades can be satisfied simultaneously, which significantly enhances the generation of single photon. Conversely, at the antiblockade excitation frequency, quantum Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the feasibility of generating antibunching photon pairs with a high purity and reasonable leaking rate by selecting appropriate driving field Rabi frequency and vdW interaction strength. These findings on enhanced photon antibunching and photon pair emission may lead to more efficient and brighter quantum light sources, which is a key mechanism for optical quantum devices.

arXiv:2509.11585•Physical Review Research•Oct 27, 2025•1 citation

Dynamical Properties of Three-Photon Blockade in a Two-Atom Cavity QED System

Daqiang Bao, Chengjie Zhu, Jingping Xu +1 more

We theoretically investigate the three-photon blockade phenomenon in a two atoms cavity QED system, where two atoms are driven by a coherent field. In the case of in-phase radiations, we show that the three-photon blockade with bunched two photons can be realized in a small regime of the driving field Rabi frequency. However, in the case of out-of-phase radiations, the one-photon excitations are prohibited due to the destructive interference, and three-photon blockade can be realized in a wide regime of driving field Rabi frequency. In addition, the three-photon blockade phenomenon can be significantly improved. The results presented here show that this two-atom scheme is a good candidate to achieve anti-bunched photon pairs.

arXiv:1809.09797•Sep 26, 2018•0 citations

Enhanced unconventional photon-blockade effect in one- and two-qubit cavities interacting with nonclassical light

Houcem Jabri, Hichem Eleuch

The antibunching effect generated in a cavity containing first a single two-level atomic system and then two identical atoms is explored for off-resonant interactions, in strong- and weak-coupling regimes. The cavity is driven by coherent and squeezed sources. Using the second-order correlation function analytically derived in the weak-excitation regime, we show that squeezed light achieves and improves strong antibunching, leading to a photon blockade. This enhancement is due to a destructive quantum interference mechanism induced by the nonclassical light, creating a supplementary transition pathway. The best effect is obtained for equal frequency detunings in the strong-coupling regime. More interestingly, our investigation reveals that the two-atom-cavity system can further improve the antibunching effect compared to the single-atom cavity. It turns out that the additional couplings appearing in the cavity due to the implementation of the two atoms, combined with the squeezed light, could substantially enhance the photon-blockade effect.

Physical Review A•Aug 3, 2022•28 citations

Interfering pathways for photon blockade in cavity QED with one and two qubits

Kui Hou, Chengjie Zhu, Yaping Yang +1 more

We theoretically study the quantum-interference-induced photon blockade and antiblockade phenomenon in an atom-cavity QED system, where the destructive [constructive] interference between two different transition pathways prohibits [enhances] two-photon excitation. To begin with, we study a single-atom--cavity QED system where the atom or cavity is driven by a coherent pump field. We show that the cavity-driven case will lead to the quantum-interference-induced photon blockade under a specific condition, but such an interference-induced photon blockade cannot be realized in the atom-driven case. This is an important consequence of the pathways possible for the two types of drives. Then, we investigate the two-atom case, and find that an additional transition pathway appears in the atom-driven case. We show that this additional transition pathway results in the quantum-interference-induced photon blockade only when the atomic resonant frequency is different from the cavity mode frequency otherwise antiblockade occurs. Moreover, in this case, the condition for realizing the interference-induced photon blockade is independent of the system's intrinsic parameters, which can be used to generate antibunched photons in both weak and strong coupling regimes.

arXiv:1907.05997•Physical Review A•Dec 10, 2019•63 citations
We theoretically investigate the influence of the Van der Waals interaction on the two-photon blockade phenomenon with the corresponding photon correlation functions g(2)(0) > 1 and g(3)(0) < 1 in a two-atom cavity-QED system, where two three-level ladder-type atoms are coherently driven by a pumping field and a coupling field simultaneously. Choosing a specific frequency of the coupling field, we show the energy splitting phenomenon caused by electromagnetically induced transparency. Correspondingly, the two-photon blockade phenomenon can be achieved near the two-photon resonant frequency. Using the Van der Waals interaction between the Rydberg states of the two atoms, we also show that the two-photon blockade can be improved when two atoms radiate in-phase or out-of-phase. As a result, two photons leak from the cavity simultaneously, but the third photon is blockaded. These results presented in this study hold potential applications in manipulating photon states and generating nonclassical light sources.
We theoretically study the electromagnetic field controlled photon correlation and radiation properties in a two-atom-cavity quantum electrodynamic (QED) system with different atom-cavity coupling strengths. When two three-level atoms are coherently driven by a probe field and a strong control field, forming a ladder type electromagnetically induced transparency configuration, there exist four different excitation pathways via the two photon processes, yielding four different frequencies for realizing two photon blockades. Carefully choosing the intensity of the control field, resonant single-photon and two-photon excitation can be achieved at the same probe field frequency. Thus, two photon blockade phenomenon can be significantly improved and the collective radiation behavior becomes superradiance or even hyperradiance. Our system presented here can be considered to be a converter of a weak coherent light to two correlated photons.
We present a study of manipulating and improving the multiphoton blockade phenomenon in a single-mode cavity with two cascade three-level atoms. Using an external control field, we show that the two-photon blockade can be changed to the three-photon blockade by just increasing the control field Rabi frequency when two atoms radiate in-phase. In the case of out-of-phase radiations, we show that the three-photon blockade phenomenon can be significantly improved with an increased mean photon number when the control field is present. We also show that the optical switching from the three-photon blockade [g(2)(0)>1[{g}^{(2)}(0)>1[g(2)(0)>1 and g(3)(0)<1]{g}^{(3)}(0)<1]g(3)(0)<1] to the super-Poissonian field [g(2)(0)>1[{g}^{(2)}(0)>1[g(2)(0)>1 and g(3)(0)>1]{g}^{(3)}(0)>1]g(3)(0)>1] can be accomplished by increasing the control field Rabi frequency. The results presented in this work provide potential applications in quantum communication and quantum networking.
We investigate the generation of strong antibunching photons/photon pairs in a two-atom cavity QED system leveraging interatomic van der Waals (vdW) interaction. We show that the vdW interaction shifts the energy of double excited state, enabling the suppression of two-photon excitation via destructive interference in a diamond configuration. This leads to antibunching photon emission with extremely high purity. Furthermore, by tuning the vdW interaction strength, the conditions for conventional and unconventional photon blockades can be satisfied simultaneously, which significantly enhances the generation of single photon. Conversely, at the antiblockade excitation frequency, quantum Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the feasibility of generating antibunching photon pairs with a high purity and reasonable leaking rate by selecting appropriate driving field Rabi frequency and vdW interaction strength. These findings on enhanced photon antibunching and photon pair emission may lead to more efficient and brighter quantum light sources, which is a key mechanism for optical quantum devices.
We theoretically investigate the three-photon blockade phenomenon in a two atoms cavity QED system, where two atoms are driven by a coherent field. In the case of in-phase radiations, we show that the three-photon blockade with bunched two photons can be realized in a small regime of the driving field Rabi frequency. However, in the case of out-of-phase radiations, the one-photon excitations are prohibited due to the destructive interference, and three-photon blockade can be realized in a wide regime of driving field Rabi frequency. In addition, the three-photon blockade phenomenon can be significantly improved. The results presented here show that this two-atom scheme is a good candidate to achieve anti-bunched photon pairs.
The antibunching effect generated in a cavity containing first a single two-level atomic system and then two identical atoms is explored for off-resonant interactions, in strong- and weak-coupling regimes. The cavity is driven by coherent and squeezed sources. Using the second-order correlation function analytically derived in the weak-excitation regime, we show that squeezed light achieves and improves strong antibunching, leading to a photon blockade. This enhancement is due to a destructive quantum interference mechanism induced by the nonclassical light, creating a supplementary transition pathway. The best effect is obtained for equal frequency detunings in the strong-coupling regime. More interestingly, our investigation reveals that the two-atom-cavity system can further improve the antibunching effect compared to the single-atom cavity. It turns out that the additional couplings appearing in the cavity due to the implementation of the two atoms, combined with the squeezed light, could substantially enhance the photon-blockade effect.
We theoretically study the quantum-interference-induced photon blockade and antiblockade phenomenon in an atom-cavity QED system, where the destructive [constructive] interference between two different transition pathways prohibits [enhances] two-photon excitation. To begin with, we study a single-atom--cavity QED system where the atom or cavity is driven by a coherent pump field. We show that the cavity-driven case will lead to the quantum-interference-induced photon blockade under a specific condition, but such an interference-induced photon blockade cannot be realized in the atom-driven case. This is an important consequence of the pathways possible for the two types of drives. Then, we investigate the two-atom case, and find that an additional transition pathway appears in the atom-driven case. We show that this additional transition pathway results in the quantum-interference-induced photon blockade only when the atomic resonant frequency is different from the cavity mode frequency otherwise antiblockade occurs. Moreover, in this case, the condition for realizing the interference-induced photon blockade is independent of the system's intrinsic parameters, which can be used to generate antibunched photons in both weak and strong coupling regimes.