Single-atom entropy squeezing for two two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode radiation field

In this paper we consider a system of two two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode quantized electromagnetic field in a lossless resonant cavity via l-photon-transition mechanism. The field and the atoms are initially prepared in the coherent state and the excited atomic states, respectively. For this system we investigate the entropy squeezing, the atomic variances, the von Neumann entropy and the atomic inversions for the single-atom case. Also we comment on the relationship between spin squeezing and linear entropy. We show that the amounts of the nonclassical effects exhibited in the entropy squeezing for the present system are less than those produced by the standard Jaynes-Cummings model. The entropy squeezing can give information on the corresponding von Neumann entropy. Also the nonclassical effects obtained from the asymmetric atoms are greater than those obtained from the symmetric ones. Finally, the entropy squeezing gives better information than the atomic variances only for the asymmetric atoms.     

Evaluation of state-to-state transitions and squeezing properties in molecules of the type H-X using the recently derived analytical IBT

We employ the methodological iterative Bogoliubov transformations (IBT) [Int. J. Quantum Chem. 94 (2003) 179], in which analytical expressions for the transition probabilities between quantum states of an anharmonic system interacting with a low intensity time dependent field were derived, for the evaluation of state-to-state transitions in diatomic molecules of the type H-X. We extend the former result in the calculation of the squeezing and dispersive properties of the system, and evaluate it for the same kind of molecules.     

Variance squeezing and information entropy squeezing via Bloch coherent states in two-level nonlinear spin models

The nonclassical squeezing effect emerging from a nonlinear coupling model (generalized Jaynes–Cummings model) of a two-level atom interacting resonantly with a bimodal cavity field via two-photon transitions is investigated in the rotating wave approximation. Various Bloch coherent initial states (rotated states) for the atomic system are assumed, i.e., (i) ground state, (ii) excited state, and (iii) linear superposition of both states. Initially, the atomic system and the field are in a disentangled state, where the field modes are in Glauber coherent states via Poisson distribution. The model is numerically tested against simulations of time evolution of the based Heisenberg uncertainty relation variance and Shannon information entropy squeezing factors. The quantum state purity is computed for the three possible initial states and used as a criterion to get information about the entanglement of the components of the system. Analytical expression of the total density operator matrix elements at t > 0 shows, in fact, the present nonlinear model to be strongly entangled, where each of the definite initial Bloch coherent states is reduced to statistical mixtures. Thus, the present model does not preserve the modulus of the Bloch vector.     

Two-photon revival-collapse phenomenon in the evolution of the quadrature squeezing of the four-photon Jaynes-Cummings model

We prove that the revival-collapse phenomenon occurring in the atomic inversion of the two-photon Jaynes-Cummings model, when the mode is initially prepared in the coherent state and the atom is in the excited state, can be obtained from the evolution of the quadrature squeezing of the four-photon Jaynes-Cummings model.     

Entanglement and nonclassicality evolution of the atom in a squeezed vacuum

As an important parameter, von Neumann entropy has been used to characterize the entanglement between atom and light field. We discussed the entanglement and nonclassicality evolution of an atom in a squeezed vacuum—a typical nonclassical field, and compare it with that of the coherent state. It shows that the atom-field entanglement in squeezed vacuum is much stronger and stabler than that in coherent state, whereas the nonclassicality of the light field depends on its initial status. This investigation is trying to find a new insight into the relation between entanglement of atom-field system and nonclassicality of light fields. The result shows that the entanglement between the atom and the field can be maintained well in the squeezed vacuum and this implies better control of atom and photon mutually.     

Entanglement dynamics and quasiprobability distribution for the degenerate Raman process

In this paper, we consider the model which consists of a degenerate Raman process involving two degenerate Rydberg energy levels of an atom interacting with a single-mode cavity field. The influence of the atomic coherence on the von Neumann entropy of the atom and the atomic inversion is investigated. It is shown that the atomic coherence decreases the amount of atom-field entanglement. It is also found that the collapse and revival times are independent of the atomic coherence, while the amplitude of the revivals is sensitive to this coherence. Moreover, the Q function and the entropy squeezing of the field are examined. Some new conclusions can be obtained.     

A degenerate three-level laser with a parametric amplifier

The aim of this paper is to study the squeezing and statistical properties of the light produced by a degenerate three-level laser whose cavity contains a degenerate parametric amplifier. In this quantum optical system the top and bottom levels of the three-level atoms injected into the laser cavity are coupled by the pump mode emerging from the parametric amplifier. For a linear gain coefficient of 100 and for a cavity damping constant of 0.8, the maximum intracavity squeezing is found at steady state and at threshold to be 93%.     

Quantum phase properties associated to solvable quantum systems using the nonlinear coherent states approach

In this paper we study the quantum phase properties of “nonlinear coherent states” and “solvable quantum systems with discrete spectra” using the Pegg-Barnett formalism in a unified approach. The presented procedure will then be applied to few special solvable quantum systems with known discrete spectrum as well as to some new classes of nonlinear oscillators with particular nonlinearity functions. Finally the associated phase distributions and their nonclasscial properties such as the squeezing in number and phase operators have been investigated, numerically.     

Atom-field entanglement in two-atom Jaynes-Cummings model with nondegenerate two-photon transitions

An exact solution of the problem of two two-level atoms with nondegenerate two-photon transitions and nondegenerate Raman transitions interacting with two-mode radiation field is presented. Asymptotic solutions for system state vectors are obtained in the approximation of large initial coherent fields. The atom-field entanglement is investigated on the basis of the reduced atomic entropy dynamics. The possibility of the system being initially in a pure disentangled state to revive into this state during the evolution process for both models is shown. Conditions and times of disentanglement are derived.     

Distillation of continuous-variable entanglement with optical means

We present an event-ready procedure that is capable of distilling Gaussian two-mode entangled states from a supply of weakly entangled states that have become mixed in a decoherence process. This procedure relies on passive optical elements and photon detectors distinguishing the presence and the absence of photons, but does not make use of photon counters. We identify fixed points of the iteration map, and discuss in detail its convergence properties. Necessary and sufficient criteria for the convergence to two-mode Gaussian states are presented. On the basis of various examples we discuss the performance of the procedure as far as the increase of the degree of entanglement and two-mode squeezing is concerned. Finally, we consider imperfect operations and outline the robustness of the scheme under non-unit detection efficiencies of the detectors. This analysis implies that the proposed protocol can be implemented with currently available technology and detector efficiencies.     

Entangled photons produced by a three-level atom in free-space

A driven three-level atom system in free-space is investigated. The quantum entropy between the three-level atom and its spontaneous field is calculated. The entanglement between them and the influence of the classical field Ω on the entanglement are studied. The result indicates that there is a steady entanglement between the three-level atom and its spontaneous field, and they cannot be disentangled even the classical field is very large. In addition, the entanglement of the k photons and q photons is studied, it shows the two field is entangled for short time evolution.     

Single event photon statistics characterization of a single photon source in an imperfect detection system

The single event photon statistics measurement of a single photon source based on the Hanbury-Brown-Twiss (HBT) configuration with an imperfect detection system is studied. It is shown that the imperfect detectors, the imperfect beam-splitter and the unbalanced linear propagation efficiencies will reduce the single event Mandel Q parameter.     

Electromagnetically induced transparency and enhanced self-Kerr nonlinearity in a four-level scheme

We analyze the interaction of three laser fields with a four-level quantum system in a tripod configuration. We obtain an analytical expression for the linear susceptibility and nonlinear susceptibility of a weak-probe field and show that the properties of double electromagnetically induced transparency and the self-Kerr nonlinearity can be modified significantly by changing the ratio of the two coupling fields. We also show that a coherently prepared tripod scheme can be used for a giant self-Kerr nonlinearity generation with vanishing absorption in the case of optimal ratio. We present a physical understanding of our numerical results using the dressed-state approach and analytical explanation.     

Wave-function transformations by general SU(1, 1) single-mode squeezing and analogy to Fresnel transformations in wave optics

Following Dirac’s assertion: “… for a quantum dynamic system that has a classical analogue, unitary transformation in the quantum theory is the analogue of contact transformation in the classical theory”, we find that the general SU(1, 1) single-mode squeezing operator F just corresponds to the generalized Fresnel transform (GFT) in wave optics. We derive the normal product form and canonical coherent state representation of F, whose matrix element in the coordinate representation is just the GFT. It is shown that F is a faithful representation of symplectic group which indicates that two successive GFTs is still a GFT. Applications of F in some other optical transforms, such as the Fresnel-wavelet transform, are presented.     

ABCD rule involved in the product of general SU(1,1) squeezing operators and quantum states’ Fresnel transformation

Base on our preceding paper [H.Y. Fan, H.L. Lu, Opt. Commun. 258 (2006) 51] we find that there exists ABCD rule involved in the product of general SU(1,1) squeezing operators, which can be considered as the quantum optics countpart of the ABCD rule in classical optics. Both one- and two-mode cases are considered, especially, the ABCD theorem embodied in the Fresnel transformation of two-mode number state is exhibited.     

Cavity-Induced Enhancement of Squeezing in Resonance Fluorescence of a V-Type Three-Level Atom

The quadrature squeezing spectra in the resonance fluorescence of a V-type three-level atom driven by a coherent field and coupled to a single-mode cavity is investigated. For weak excitation, the fluorescence field exhibit squeezing in the out-of-phase quadrature. The coupling between the atom and the cavity mode can greatly enhance the squeezing centred at the laser frequency. More importantly, for strong excitation, under the effect of the cavity-atom coupling, the in-phase quadrature of fluorescence can exhibit two-mode squeezing at the two inner sideband frequencies. By working in the dressed-state representation and hiring secular approximation, we give an analytical explanation for the effect. The result shows, under appropriate conditions, the squeezing can be greatly enhanced by appropriately tuning the cavity resonant frequency.     

Role of spatial mode function in the presence of two-atom events in a micromaser

In this paper, we discuss the effects of spatial mode function in an one-photon micromaser in the presence of two-atom events. It is shown that two-atom events allow us a possibility to study the effects of different cavity eigenmodes in a micromaser. We find that squeezing properties of the radiation field depend upon the parity (odd or even) and order (lower or higher) of cavity eigenmodes. For example, squeezing can be obtained for odd-order cavity eigenmodes which completely vanishes for even-order modes. Our results also show that effects similar to self-induced transparency are never obtained in the presence of two-atom events. Finally, we consider the effect of pump fluctuations and cavity losses in our system.     

Decoherence in atom–field interactions: A treatment using superoperator techniques

Decoherence is a subject of great importance in quantum mechanics, particularly in the fields of quantum optics, quantum information processing and quantum computing. Quantum computation relies heavily in the unitary character of each step carried out by a quantum computational device and this unitarity is affected by decoherence. An extensive study of master equations is therefore needed for a better understanding on how quantum information is processed when a system interacts with its environment. Master equations are usually studied by using Fokker–Planck and Langevin equations and not much attention has been given to the use of superoperator techniques. In this report we study in detail several approaches that lead to decoherence, for instance a variation of the Schrödinger equation that models decoherence as the system evolves through intrinsic mechanisms beyond conventional quantum mechanics rather than dissipative interaction with an environment. For the study of the dissipative interaction we use a correspondence principle approach. We solve the master equations for different physical systems, namely, Kerr and parametric down conversion. In the case of light-matter interaction we show that although dissipation destroys the quantumness of the field, information of the initial field may be obtained via the reconstruction of quasiprobability distribution functions.     

Optical switching by controlling the double-dark resonances in a N-tripod five-level atom

We have investigated the optical switching in a five-level atom in a novel configuration of electromagnetically induced transparency. This N-tripod type level scheme combines the attractive features of cross-phase modulation appearing in N-type atoms with the ability to slow light pulses associated with tripod atoms. The addition of a new driving field to the usual tripod configuration allows to control the double-dark resonances which appear in the four-level tripod system and thus enables to manipulate the probe absorption and dispersion properties. We have studied the temporal dynamics of two pulses, a probe pulse and a switch propagating pulse through the sample. In the presence of the switching field, a deep in the absorption at resonance due to one-photon electromagnetically induced transparency appears and the atomic system is transparent to the probe field, which propagates at a very small group velocity. By tuning the fields, one of the usual double-dark resonances appearing in tripod system can be controlled (Stark-shifted) and the medium, which is transparent in the absence of the control field, will become highly absorptive. The linear and cross-phase modulation susceptibilities have been calculated and we predict the possibility to realize two-photon switching and giant cross-phase modulation. Finally we address the question about the generation of an entangled coherent state and we show that the giant cross-phase modulation provided by this N-tripod atomic system can be used for realizing polarization quantum phase gates.     

Effects on squeezing and sub-poissonian of light in fourth harmonic generation up to first-order Hamiltonian interaction

The effects on squeezing and sub-poissonian of light in fourth harmonic generation (FHG) are investigated based on the fully quantum mechanically up to the first order Hamiltonian interaction in gt, where g is the coupling constant between the modes per second and t is the interaction time between the waves during the process in a nonlinear medium. FHG is a process in which an incident laser beam of the fundamental frequency ω interacts with a nonlinear medium to produce the harmonic frequency at 4ω. The coupled Heisenberg equations of motion involving real and imaginary parts of the quadrature operators are established. The occurrence of amplitude squeezing effects in both the quadratures of the radiation field in the fundamental mode is investigated and found to be dependent on the selective phase values of the field amplitude. The photon statistics of the pump mode in this process have also been investigated and found to be sub-poissonian in nature. It is found that there is no possibility to produce squeezed light in the harmonic mode up to first-order interaction in gt. Further, we have found the case up to second-order Hamiltonian interaction in gt that the normal squeezing in the harmonic mode is directly depends upon the fourth-order squeezing of the initial pump field. This gives a method of converting higher-order (fourth-order) squeezing into normal squeezing in the harmonic mode and vice versa.