Secular vs. Non-secular Redfield Dynamics and Fano Coherences in Incoherent Excitation: An Experimental Proposal

TL;DR

This paper compares secular and non-secular Redfield dynamics in open quantum systems, proposing an experiment with calcium atoms to test for Fano coherences induced by incoherent light, highlighting their differing physical predictions.

Contribution

It introduces an experimental proposal to distinguish between secular and non-secular Redfield equations through fluorescence patterns in calcium atoms.

Findings

Different fluorescence patterns predicted by secular and non-secular models

Proposal for experimental verification of Fano coherences

Potential validation of non-secular dynamics in quantum systems

Abstract

Two different Master Equation approaches have been formally derived to address the dynamics of open quantum systems interacting with a thermal environment (such as sunlight). They have led to two different physical results: non-secular equations that show noise-induced (Fano) coherences and secular equations that do not. An experimental test for the appearance of non-secular terms is proposed using Ca atoms in magnetic fields excited by broadband incoherent radiation. Significantly different patterns of fluorescence are predicted, allowing for a clear test for the validity of the secular and non-secular approach and for the observation of Fano coherences.