Collective Quantum Dot Inversion and Amplification of Photon and Phonon Waves

TL;DR

This paper theoretically explores how strongly driven quantum dots in micro-cavities can achieve steady-state population inversion, leading to amplification of light and sound waves through collective effects and environment interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework showing how quantum dot ensembles can induce inversion and gain for photons and phonons, influenced by vacuum and phonon environments.

Findings

Inversion and gain depend on environment interplay.

Photon and phonon spectra show reversed absorption and gain.

Collective effects significantly enhance inversion and gain.

Abstract

The possibility of steady-state population inversion in a small sample of strongly driven two-level emitters like quantum dots (QDs) in micro-cavities, and its utilization towards amplification of light and acoustic waves is investigated theoretically. We find that inversion and absorption spectrum of photons, and phonons crucially depend on the interplay between the intrinsic vacuum and phonon environments. The absorption profiles of photons and phonons show marked novel features like gain instead of transparency and absorption reversed to gain, respectively. Furthermore, we report collectivity induced substantial enhancement of inversion and pronounced gain in the photon, and phonon absorption spectrum for a wavelength size QD ensemble.