Quantum interference initiated super- and subradiant emission from entangled atoms

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum interference framework to explain super- and subradiant emission from entangled atoms, revealing directional emission and extending Dicke's results to finite atom systems.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum multipath interference approach for entangled atoms with arbitrary separation, explaining super- and subradiance and directional emission in finite systems.

Findings

Derived a formula for radiated intensity based on interference pathways

Showed directional emission from symmetric W-states

Connected Dicke's results to interference pathways

Abstract

We calculate the radiative characteristics of emission from a system of entangled atoms which can have a relative distance larger than the emission wavelength. We develop a quantum multipath interference approach which explains both super- and subradiance though the entangled states have zero dipole moment. We derive a formula for the radiated intensity in terms of different interfering pathways. We further show how the interferences lead to directional emission from atoms prepared in symmetric W-states. As a byproduct of our work we show how Dicke's classic result can be understood in terms of interfering pathways. In contrast to the previous works on ensembles of atoms, we focus on finite numbers of atoms prepared in well characterized states.