Energy concentration in composite quantum systems

TL;DR

This paper predicts a novel energy concentration mechanism in composite quantum systems that causes continuous photon leakage without external driving, challenging traditional RWA-based models and with implications for thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a new energy concentrating phenomenon in composite quantum systems that cannot be explained by the rotating wave approximation.

Findings

Photon leakage occurs without external driving.

The phenomenon challenges existing RWA-based models.

Implications discussed in thermodynamic context.

Abstract

The spontaneous emission of photons from optical cavities and from trapped atoms has been studied extensively in the framework of quantum optics. Theoretical predictions based on the rotating wave approximation (RWA) are in general in very good agreement with experimental findings. However, current experiments aim at combining better and better cavities with large numbers of tightly confined atoms. Here we predict an energy concentrating mechanism in the behavior of such a composite quantum system which cannot be described by the RWA. Its result is the continuous leakage of photons through the cavity mirrors, even in the absence of external driving. We conclude with a discussion of the predicted phenomenon in the context of thermodynamics.