Superradiance paradox in waveguide lattices

TL;DR

This paper explores the superradiance paradox in waveguide lattices, demonstrating how non-Markovian effects cause apparent collective emission, and shows that frequent observation can restore independent decay dynamics.

Contribution

It proposes an integrated optics platform to emulate the superradiance paradox and reveals how Zeno-like measurements can control emission behavior.

Findings

Non-Markovian dynamics cause superradiance paradox.

Frequent observation restores independent emission.

Waveguide lattices can simulate quantum emission phenomena.

Abstract

Recently, it has been suggested that the collective radiative decay of two point-like quantum emitters coupled to a waveguide, separated by a distance comparable to the coherence length of a spontaneously emitted photon, leads to an apparent $^{\prime}$superradiance paradox$^{\prime}$ by which one cannot decide whether independent or collective emission occurs. The resolution of the paradox stems from the strong non-Markovian dynamics arising from the delayed field-mediated atom interaction. Here we suggest an integrated optics platform to emulate the superradiance paradox, based on photon escape dynamics in waveguide lattices. Remarkably, Markovian decay dynamics and independent photon emission can be restored by frequent (Zeno-like) observation of the system.