# Superradiance in Inverted Multi-level Atomic Clouds

## TL;DR

This paper develops a new approximate model to simulate superradiance in large, multi-level atomic clouds, accounting for complex interactions and dephasing effects, with implications for Rydberg atom experiments.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel set of equations enabling simulation of superradiance in large multi-level atom clouds without assuming symmetric dipole interactions.

## Key findings

- Dephasing from elastic dipole interactions suppresses superradiance.
- Multiple transitions compete, affecting superradiance ability.
- Parametric restrictions are identified for superradiance occurrence.

## Abstract

This work examines superradiance in initially inverted clouds of \textit{multi-level} atoms. We develop a set of equations that can approximately calculate the temporal evolution of $N$ coupled atoms. This allows us to simulate clouds containing hundreds of multi-level atoms while eschewing the assumption and/or approximation of symmetric dipole-dipole interactions. This treatment is used to explore the effects that dephasing caused by elastic dipole-dipole interactions, and competition between multiple transitions have on superradiance. Both of these mechanisms place strong parametrical restrictions on a given transition's ability to superradiate. These results are likely important to recent experiments that probe superradiance in Rydberg atoms.