Physical Review Research

Hidden multiphoton dynamics in the Heitler regime of resonance fluorescence

Yanfeng Li, Manman Wang, Chuanyu Zeng, Hanqing Liu, Haiqiao Ni, Zhichuan Niu, Chengyong Hu

Published Dec 12, 2025• 1 citation

Abstract

Resonance fluorescence from a two-level emitter is a standard route to single-photon generation, where the emitter produces only one photon at a time, and multiphoton emission or scattering is inherently suppressed. In this study, we challenge this paradigm in the weak-excitation limit, where coherent scattering dominates. Using a single quantum dot in a microcavity, we show that the incoherent component exhibits pronounced superbunching, revealing simultaneous multiphoton scattering from a single emitter. In contrast, the total reflected field—comprising the reflected driving field and incoherent scattering—displays perfect antibunching, arising from quantum interference that cancels two-photon probability amplitudes. By spectrally filtering the reflected field, we tune the relative contributions of coherent and incoherent components, observing transitions in photon statistics from antibunching to superbunching, or to Poissonian light. Supported by master-equation simulations and an interference-based model, these results uncover the hidden but fundamental role of multiphoton dynamics in resonance fluorescence, and open avenues for generating nonclassical light in cavity and waveguide quantum electrodynamics.

DOI: 10.1103/hgzx-twpk

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