A solid state emitter embedded in a microcavity under intense excitation: a variational master equation approach

TL;DR

This paper develops a variational master equation to analyze the resonance fluorescence of a solid-state two-level system in a microcavity under intense excitation, accounting for phonon bath effects more accurately than previous models.

Contribution

It introduces a variational master equation applicable over wider temperature, pumping, and coupling ranges, improving the modeling of phonon effects in solid-state quantum emitters.

Findings

Variational master equation matches experimental spectra better at high temperatures.

Weak coupling and polaronic models fail under strong pumping.

Numerical results show the importance of including dissipative phonon effects.

Abstract

In this work, dissipative effects from a phonon bath on the resonance fluorescence of a solid state two level system embedded in a high quality semiconductor microcavity and driven by an intense laser, are investigated. Within the density operator formalism, we derive a variational master equation valid for broader ranges of temperatures, pumping rates, and radiation-matter couplings, than previous studies. From the obtained master equation, fluorescence spectra for various thermal and exciting conditions are numerically calculated, and compared to those computed from weak coupling and polaronic master equations, respectively. Our results evidence the break down of those rougher approaches under increased temperature and strong pumping.