# Collective dynamics of inhomogeneously broadened emitters coupled to an optical cavity with narrow linewidth

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how inhomogeneously broadened emitters collectively interact with a narrow-linewidth optical cavity, revealing synchronization phenomena and collective Rabi oscillations through mean field theory.

## Contribution

It introduces a simplified model to analyze synchronization and collective effects in inhomogeneously broadened emitters coupled to a narrow-linewidth cavity.

## Key findings

- Emitters within a few linewidths synchronize and exhibit collective Rabi oscillations.
- Synchronized oscillations can excite detuned emitters far from cavity resonance.
- A simplified two-ensemble model reveals steady-state synchronization under incoherent drive.

## Abstract

We study collective effects in an inhomogeneously broadened ensemble of two-level emitters coupled to an optical cavity with narrow linewidth. Using second order mean field theory we find that the emitters within a few times the cavity linewidth exhibit synchronous behaviour and undergo collective Rabi oscillations. Under proper conditions, the synchronized oscillations give rise to a modulated intracavity field which can excite emitters detuned by many linewidths from the cavity resonance. To study the synchronization in further detail, we simplify the model and consider two ensembles and study steady state properties when the emitters are subjected to an incoherent drive.