Collective excitations using a room-temperature gas of 3-level atoms in a cavity

TL;DR

This paper theoretically explores collective excitations in a room-temperature gas of three-level atoms within a two-mode optical cavity, revealing simplified solutions at large detunings and unique behaviors under different driving conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for understanding collective excitations in three-level atomic ensembles in cavities, highlighting simplified models and quantum nonlinear optics implications.

Findings

Large detunings lead to simple, intuitive solutions.

Classical driving makes the system behave like two-level atoms with suppressed Doppler effects.

Single-photon driving results in collective behavior akin to a single two-level atom.

Abstract

We theoretically investigate an ensemble of three-level room-temperature atoms in a two-mode optical cavity, focusing on the case of counterpropagating light fields. We find that in the limit of large detunings the problem admits relatively simple and intuitive solutions. When a classical field drives one of the transitions, the system becomes equivalent to an ensemble of two-level atoms with suppressed Doppler broadening. In contrast, when the same transition is driven with a single photon, the system collectively behaves like a single two-level atom. This latter result is particularly relevant in the context of quantum nonlinear optics.