Rabi oscillation in a quantum cavity: Markovian and non-Markovian dynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores how finite light travel time affects Rabi oscillations in a quantum cavity, revealing the importance of non-Markovian dynamics for accurate modeling.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Rabi oscillations in quantum cavities require accounting for delay-induced non-Markovian effects, extending previous Markovian models.

Findings

Rabi oscillations occur only when light travel time exceeds atomic response time.

Delay effects lead to non-Markovian dynamics in quantum cavity systems.

Parameters like Rabi frequency and cavity loss rate are quantitatively characterized.

Abstract

We investigate the Rabi oscillation of an atom placed inside a quantum cavity where each mirror is formed by a chain of atoms trapped near a one-dimensional waveguide. This proposal was studied previously with the use of Markov approximation, where the delay due to the finite travel time of light between the two cavity mirrors is neglected. We show that Rabi oscillation analogous to that obtained with high-finesse classical cavities is achieved only when this travel time is much larger than the time scale that characterizes the collective response of the atomic chain. Therefore, the delay must be taken into account and the dynamics of the problem is inherently non-Markovian. Parameters of interest such as the Rabi frequency and the cavity loss rate due to photon leakage through the mirrors are obtained.