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Observation of vacuum-induced collective quantum beats

Quantum Physics 2021-08-18 v1 Atomic Physics

Abstract

We demonstrate collectively enhanced vacuum-induced quantum beat dynamics from a three-level V-type atomic system. Exciting a dilute atomic gas of magneto-optically trapped 85^{85}Rb atoms with a weak drive resonant on one of the transitions, we observe the forward-scattered field after a sudden shut-off of the laser. The subsequent radiative dynamics, measured for various optical depths of the atomic cloud, exhibits superradiant decay rates, as well as collectively enhanced quantum beats. Our work is also the first experimental illustration of quantum beats arising from atoms initially prepared in a single excited level as a result of the vacuum-induced coupling between excited levels.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2102.11982,
  title  = {Observation of vacuum-induced collective quantum beats},
  author = {Hyok Sang Han and Ahreum Lee and Kanupriya Sinha and Fredrik K. Fatemi and Steven L. Rolston},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2102.11982},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

12 pages (including Supplemental Material), 4 figures