Theoretical treatment of the interaction between two-level atoms and periodic waveguides

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical framework for understanding how two-level atoms interact with periodic waveguides, deriving general semi-analytical expressions for scattering, which can be used to study multi-atom collective effects.

Contribution

It introduces a general theoretical approach using optical Bloch equations and modal formalism to analyze atom-waveguide interactions, applicable to various periodic photonic structures.

Findings

Derived semi-analytical scattering matrix expressions

Applicable to any periodic photonic or plasmonic waveguides

Facilitates study of multi-atom collective effects

Abstract

Light transport in periodic waveguides coupled to a two-level atom is investigated. By using optical Bloch equations and a photonic modal formalism, we derive semi-analytical expressions for the scattering matrix of one atom trapped in a periodic waveguide. The derivation is general, as the expressions hold for any periodic photonic or plasmonic waveguides. It provides a basic building block to study collective effects arising from photon-mediated multi-atom interactions in periodic waveguides.