Superradiance and subradiance in extended media

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple regulator for analyzing superradiance and subradiance in extended media, enabling straightforward derivation of lifetimes using elementary Fourier methods and modeling localized radiative regions.

Contribution

A novel regulator approach for unbounded media that simplifies the analysis of super- and subradiant lifetimes using Fourier techniques.

Findings

Regulator enables trivial derivation of lifetimes in extended media.

Model describes localized radiative activity regions within quiescent surroundings.

Simplifies analysis compared to previous spherical harmonics and Bessel function methods.

Abstract

In super- or subradiance, a quantum superposition of excited atoms collectively emits a photon much more or much less rapidly than an isolated atom. Superradiant and subradiant lifetimes have been derived for finite spheres of uniform media, either by simulating random samples or by expanding in spherical harmonics and analyzing Bessel functions. We introduce a simple regulator that applies to unbounded media, enabling trivial derivation and analysis of lifetimes via elementary Fourier techniques. The regulator can be interpreted as a correlation length for atomic positions; the regularized system describes localized regions of enhanced radiative activity in otherwise quiescent surroundings.