English

Quantum interference in optical fields and atomic radiation

Quantum Physics 2009-11-07 v1

Abstract

We discuss the connection between quantum interference effects in optical beams and radiation fields emitted from atomic systems. We illustrate this connection by a study of the first- and second-order correlation functions of optical fields and atomic dipole moments. We explore the role of correlations between the emitting systems and present examples of practical methods to implement two systems with non-orthogonal dipole moments. We also derive general conditions for quantum interference in a two-atom system and for a control of spontaneous emission. The relation between population trapping and dark states is also discussed. Moreover, we present quantum dressed-atom models of cancellation of spontaneous emission, amplification on dark transitions, fluorescence quenching and coherent population trapping.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0109100,
  title  = {Quantum interference in optical fields and atomic radiation},
  author = {Z. Ficek and S. Swain},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0109100},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

To be published in Journal of Modern Optics Special Issue on Quantum Interference