Incoherent excitation of few-level multiatom ensembles

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how a multi-atom three-level system interacts with an incoherent environment, revealing unique photon statistics and steady-state behaviors, especially in photon correlations and emission processes.

Contribution

It provides an exact solution to the master equation for multi-atom systems under incoherent excitation, highlighting effects on photon statistics and steady-state populations.

Findings

Photon correlation function shows a minimum for lower atomic transition photons.

Quantum decay interference does not affect steady-state population distribution.

Steady-state amplified spontaneous emission influences photon statistics.

Abstract

We investigate the collective interaction of a multi-atom three-level ladder system with an environmental incoherent reservoir. The exact solution of the master equation that describes such a system of atoms emitting distinguishable or indistinguishable photons on interaction with an incoherent reservoir is obtained. The quantum decay interference effects have no influences over steady-state distribution of population among the energy levels. However, the photon statistics of the collectively emitted photons are different in this case. In particular, the normalized second-order photon correlation function shows a minimum in its value for the photons generated on lower atomic transition in a system with orthogonal dipoles. The minimum is due to the steady-state amplified spontaneous emission by the incoherent applied fields.