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Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology

The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon

Jacob Emerick, Anil K. Patnaik, Yuri V. Rostovtsev

Published Apr 29, 2025• 2 citations

Abstract

We study the propagation of a quantum field composed of a few photons interacting with a three-level Λ -atom driven by a coherent classical field. The quantum field acquires a phase shift, which can be interpreted as a dispersion effect on the photon wave packet and described by the refractive index for quantum fields down to the single-photon level. In this paper, we demonstrate that the phases acquired by quantum fields depend on the number of photons in the quantum states. Notably, the phases differ between single- and two-photon states, enabling the separation of multiphoton states. This finding highlights new applications related to the dispersion of three-level atoms, which are important in advancing quantum information processing and enhancing quantum communication technologies. The results are crucial for long-distance quantum communication and hold potential for developing quantum field-based linear devices such as beam splitters, lenses, and quantum prisms capable of separating different components of quantum fields. The findings can have interesting applications for manipulating and assembling of multiphoton entanglement states.

DOI: 10.3389/frqst.2025.1546480

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The refractive index of a system is often viewed as the collective response of a medium to an electromagnetic field. Nevertheless, even if targeted at a single atom, the incoming light undergoes the dispersion. By studying the propagation of a single photon interacting with a two-level atom, we examine the dispersion behavior, calculate the phase and group velocity of the photon wave packet, and further analyze the dispersion experienced by the photon. These findings are critical for advancing long-distance quantum communications.

Classically, the refractive index of a medium is due to a response on said medium from an electromagnetic field. It has been shown that a single two-level atom interacting with a single photon undergoes dispersion. The following extends that analyses to a three-level system interacting with two photons. Analysis of the system is completed both numerically for all photonic field modes, and analytically for an adiabatic solution of a single field mode. The findings are not only interesting for understanding additional physical phenomena due to the increased complexity of a three-level, two-photon system, but are also necessary for advancing applications such as quantum communications, quantum computation, and quantum information.

Classically, the refractive index of a medium is due to a response on said medium from an electromagnetic field. It has been shown, however, that a single two-level atom interacting with a single photon undergoes dispersion. The following extends that analysis to a three-level system interacting with two photons. Analysis of the system is completed both numerically for all photonic field modes and analytically for an adiabatic solution of a single field mode. The findings are not only interesting for understanding additional physical phenomena due to the increased complexity of a three-level two-photon system but are also necessary for advancing applications such as quantum communications, quantum computation, and quantum information.

The diffraction of the wave packet of a three-level atom in a multifrequency optical radiation field is studied. A new type of coherent beam splitter for atoms that employs the scattering of a wave packet in the field of four standing light waves with different spatial shifts is proposed on this basis. It is shown that this interaction scheme makes it possible to obtain large splittings (>100ℏ k ) of the wave packet of a three-level Λ atom in momentum space into only two coherent components. In addition, the atoms in these coherent components are in long-lived atomic states, which substantially simplifies the experimental implementation of such a splitter.

Propagation of quantum field interacting with single two-level or three-level atoms has been studied. Using the Gaussian quantum mode functions, we calculate evolution of the quantum state that includes atomic and field variable. We demonstrated the phase acquired by the single photon propagation that can be of great importance for long quantum communications. The results can be used for controlling quantum field propagation, and for design of optical elements such as a quantum prism and a quantum lens. The vacuum fields have been used to generate the strongly correlated quantum fields.