Effects of squeezed vacuum on transient optical response in a ∧ system

The effects of the squeezed vacuum (SV) on the transient optical properties in a ∧-type three-level atomic medium with or without the vacuum-induced coherence (VIC) are investigated in this paper. We find that the oscillatory amplitude of the optical spectra, the transient absorption (gain), and the response time from the transient to the steady situation are remarkably dependent on the SV. When including the VIC, the transient and steady optical properties display a reverse variation with the SV. Additionally, it is interesting to find that the steady population distribution is kept at the same value for different initial conditions in the presence of SV.     

Changes in surface chemistry of an Ir---W mixed metal coated cathode during activation

A comparative study has been made between a mixed metal (60% Ir-40%W) coated cathode and a “B” cathode during activation and also in their respective steady states. The rate limiting factor in the activation of the coated cathode is the oxidation of the initial Ba type surface to a BaO type surface. Since on the “B” cathode Ba and O emerge together, its activation is faster than the coated cathode. In the steady state of operation, both cathodes exhibit a surface near BaO stoichiometry which is the optimum composition for the minimum work function. This work function is about 0.2 eV lower on the coated cathode than on the “B” cathode. An accelerated life test at 1575 K indicated a gradual decrease of the Ir concentration in the coating.     

Controllable Kerr Nonlinearity with Perfect Transparency in the Existence of Spontaneously Generated Coherence

We investigate the Kerr nonlinearity of a V-type three-level atomic system where the upper two states decay outside to another state and hence spontaneous generated coherence may exist. It is shown that dark state and hence perfect transparency present under certain conditions. Meanwhile, the Kerr nonlinearity can be controlled by manipulation of the decay rates and the splitting of the two excited states. Therefore, enhanced Kerr nonlinearity without absorption can be obtained under proper parameters.     

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.     

A simplified scheme for realizing multi-atom NOON state

We present a scheme for realizing a multi-atom NOON state via cavity QED system. The scheme bases on the Jaynes-Cumming mode with collective atomic bosonic mode. In the process, a series of control atoms are sent through two single mode cavities which are initially in vacuum states and have the same collective atoms. After the suitable interaction time, the collective atoms in two cavities are in the desired state.     

The influence of spontaneously generated coherence on atom-photon entanglement in a Λ-type system with an incoherent pump

Owing to interference induced by spontaneous emission, the density-matrix equations in a three-level Λ-type system have an additional coherence term, which plays a critical role in modulating the inversionless gain and electromagnetically induced transparency effect. In addition, it is shown that spontaneously generated coherence (SGC) has an effect on the entanglement between an atom and a photon of the coupling laser field by calculating the degree of entanglement (DEM) of the atomic system. In this paper, we investigate the influence of the SGC effect on atom-photon entanglement in a Λ-type system, which generally remains a high entangled state. When an incoherent pump source is introduced, we find that the SGC effect could exert considerable influence on the atom reduced entropy under certain conditions for both transient and steady states. More interestingly, such an incoherent pump field could actively affect the short-time dynamic behaviors of the transient quantum entangled state at a certain range of pump rate as a typical coherent case.     

Schemes for Generating Cluster States via Cavity Systems

We propose a scheme for generating an N-atom cluster state via cavity quantum electrodynamics （ CQED）. In our scheme, there is no transfer of quantum information between the atoms and the cavity, i.e., the cavity is always in the vacuum state, so the cavity decay can be suppressed. Also, the generated cluster state is the entanglement of the ground states, so the atomic spontaneous emission can be avoided. Therefore, the cluster state generated in our scheme has a longer lifetime. Furthermore, the requirement on the quality factor of the cavity greatly loosened for the cavity is only virtually excited.     

Incoherent pump influence on the transient gain in a V-type system with spontaneously generated coherence

We study the influence of the incoherent pump field on the transient response of a three-level V-type system with two near-degenerate excited states. In this system due to interaction of the field with the vacuum an interference term appears, the spontaneously generated coherence term. We find that due to the incoherent pump the transient proprieties of the atomic system can be significantly modified. The enhancement of the transient gain can be obtained for proper values of the rate of the incoherent pump field and relative phase between the two fields.     

Comparative Regge analysis of Λ,ΣΛ(1520) and Θ<Superscript>+</Superscript> production in γp,πp and pp reactions

Using the Quark-Gluon Strings Model --combined with Regge phenomenology-- we perform a comparative analysis of Λ, Σ⁰, Λ(1520) and Θ⁺ production in binary reactions induced by photon, pion and proton beams on the nucleon. We find that the existing experimental data on the γp↦K⁺Λ differential and total cross-sections can be described very well by the model for photon energies 1-16 GeV and - t < 2 GeV² assuming a dominant contribution of the K^* Regge trajectory. Moreover, using the same parameters we also reproduce the total γp↦K⁺Σ⁰ and γp↦K⁺Λ(1520) cross-sections suggesting a “universality” of the Regge model. In order to check the consistency of the approach we evaluate the differential and total cross-sections for the reaction π^-p↦K⁰Λ which is also found to be dominated by the K^* Regge trajectory. Using the apparent “universality” of the Regge model we extend our scheme to the analysis of the binary reactions γp↦¯⁰Θ⁺, π^-p↦K^-Θ⁺ and pp↦Σ⁺Θ⁺ as well as the exclusive and inclusive Θ⁺ production in the reactions pp↦p¯⁰Θ⁺ and pp↦Θ⁺X. Our detailed studies demonstrate that Θ⁺ production does not follow the “universality” principle, thus suggesting an essentially different internal structure of the exotic baryon relative to conventional hyperons or hyperon resonances.     

On the distribution of 1550-nm photon pairs efficiently generated using a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

We report on efficient generation of 1550-nm photon pairs in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide using the spontaneous parametric down-conversion process. Such photon pairs are expected to find applications in fiber-based long-distance quantum communication. Pumping the waveguide with a pulsed semiconductor laser with a pulse rate of 800 kHz and a maximum average pump power of 50 μW, we obtain a coincidence rate of 600 s⁻¹. Despite only two single-photon detectors are used, we gain some information about the photon-number distribution. Our measurements are found to be in agreement with a Poissonian photon-pair distribution, but clearly differ from the expected outcomes for both conventional and two-mode squeezed states, the latter corresponding to a thermal photon-pair distribution. The Poissonian photon-pair distribution is also explained by comparing the coherence time of the pump light and of the detected photons. An average of 0.9 generated photon pairs per pulse can thus be inferred.     

Tripartite Entanglement via Microwave Driven Atomic Coherence

We propose a new scheme to achieve the tripartite entanglement based on the standard criteria [Phys. Rev. A 67（2003） 052315] in a inverse-tripod atomic system. In our scheme, the atomic coherence is introduced by two microwave fields which drive the upper three levels of atom. By numerically simulating the dynamics of system, we investigate the generation and evolution of entanglement in the presence of atom and cavity decay. As a result, the present research provides an efficient approach to achieve fully tripartite entanglement with different frequencies and initial states for each entangled mode, which may have impact on the progress of multicolored multi-notes quantum information networks.     

Analysis on generation schemes of Schrödinger cat-like states under experimental imperfections

An analysis and a comparison of two generation schemes of Schrödinger cat-like state including experimental imperfections are presented. Under practical conditions, a scheme using a squeezed vacuum and a photon subtraction will generate a cat-like state with its fidelity to the Schrödinger cat state F = 0.815 and value of its Wigner function at the origin of the phase space W(0,0) = −0.203, and then turned out to be more feasible than the scheme using squeezed single-photon state. The non-classicality of these cat-like states is governed only by non-classical photon number statistics. The criteria for ensuring W(0,0) < 0 are also presented in terms of imperfection parameter diagrams.     

Quantum coherence in quantum dot—Aharonov–Bohm ring hybrid systems

We investigate coherent transport through hybrid systems of quantum dots and Aharonov–Bohm (AB) rings. Strong coherence over the entire system leads to the Fano effect, which originates from the interference and the phase shift caused by the discrete states in the dots. The high controllability of the system parameters reveals that the Fano effect in mesoscopic transport can be a powerful tool for detecting the phase shift of electrons. We apply it to detect electrostatic phase modulation and the phase shift in a quantum wire with a side-coupled dot. Finally, we provide an experimental answer to the problem of “neighboring in-phase Coulomb peaks”.     

Quarkonium formation in statistical and kinetic models

I review the present status of two related models addressing scenarios in which the formation of heavy quarkonium states in high energy heavy ion collisions proceed via “off-diagonal” combinations of a quark and an antiquark. The physical process involved belongs to a general class of quark “recombination”, although technically the recombining quarks here were never previously bound in a quarkonium state. Features of these processes relevant as a signature of color deconfinement are discussed.Arrival of the final proofs: 26 April 2005     

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.     

Arbitrary quantum superposition state for three-level system using oscillating dark states

An method for adiabatic population transfer and the preparation of an arbitrary quantum superposition state using the oscillating dark states (ODS) in atomic system is presented. Quantum state of a three-level Λ configuration atomic system finally evolves into the same time-dependent state, and oscillates periodically between two ground levels under evolving adiabatic conditions when two pairs of classical detuning laser fields drive the system into the ODS forcedly, whatever the initial states of the system are. The decoherence of the ODS evolution is greatly suppressed and the oscillation is very stable, therefore adiabatic population transfer and the preparation of an arbitrary quantum superposition state of atomic system can be completed accurately and conveniently.     

Interband tunneling depopulation in type-II InAs/GaSb cascade laser heterostructure

An exact analytical representation has been obtained for electron eigenstates in the full isotropic 8-band Kane model and applied to calculate the depopulation rate of the lower lasing state in the active region of a type-II intersubband cascade laser. We show that interband tunneling rate takes its maximum value when the depopulated states belong to the upper of the coupled electron- and hole-like subbands in the “leaky window” of the broken-gap InAs/GaSb heterostructure.     

Effect of spontaneously generated coherence on Kerr nonlinearity in a four-level atomic system

We propose a scheme for giant enhancement of the Kerr nonlinearity in a four-level atomic system in which spontaneously generated coherence is present. The physics mechanism of the enhancement of Kerr nonlinearity is mainly based on the presence of an extra atomic coherence induced by the spontaneously generated coherence. Numerical values obtained by solving the density matrix equations agree well with these exact analytical values.     

Entanglement and Its Dynamics with Atomic Spontaneous Decay

The atomic decay for a two-level atom interacting with a single mode of electromagnetic tield is considered. For a chosen initial state, the exact solution of the master equation is found. Therefore, effect of the atomic damping on entanglement （purity loss）, degree of entanglement by the negativity, mutual information and atomic coherence through the master equation are studied.     

Complete entanglement transfer between light and qubits

Using the two-mode two-photon Jaynes-Cummings model, entanglement transfer between atoms and field is studied. It is found that when the field is in state constructed from the two-mode photon number states |00〉,|11〉 or the two-mode squeezed vacuum states, full entanglement exchange can be attained no matter the atoms are initially in pure or mixed states. These investigations show that CV entangled states can act as perfectly as the entangled number states in entangling initially separable atoms. The two-mode two-photon atom-field interaction also provides a simple way for the quantum teleportation of atomic or field states.