Atom—Field Correlations in the Weak-Excitation Limit of Absorptive Optical Bistability

We calculate the steady-state and first-order time varying atom—field correlation functions in the weak-excitation limit of absorptive optical bistability from a linearized theory of quantum fluctuations. We formulate a Fokker—Planck equation in the positive P representation following the phase-space analysis in [H. J. Carmichael, Phys. Rev. A 33, 3262 (1986)], which is suitable for the determination of cross-correlations as it does not resort to adiabatic elimination. Special emphasis is placed on the limit of collective strong coupling as attained from a vanishing photon-loss rate. We compare to the cavity-transmission spectrum with reference to experimental results obtained for macroscopic dissipative systems, discussing the role of anomalous correlations arising as distinct nonclassical features.

     

Probing the Critical Point of the Jaynes–Cummings Second-Order Dissipative Quantum Phase Transition

We highlight the importance of quantum fluctuations in organizing a dissipative quantum phase transition for the driven Jaynes–Cummings interaction with variable qubit-cavity detuning. The system response presents a substantial difference from the predictions of the semiclassical theory, the extent of which is revealed in the properties of quantum bistability, and visualized with the help of quasi-distribution functions for the cavity field, subject to an appropriate scale parameter. States anticipated by the neoclassical theory of radiation coexist in the quantum picture, following the occurrence of spontaneous dressed-state polarization and phase bistability at resonance.