Dark-state and loss-induced phenomena in the quantum-optical regime of $\Lambda$-type three-level systems

TL;DR

This paper explores how losses in a three-level quantum system driven by quantum light can induce phenomena like population trapping and photon statistic redistribution, revealing new insights into quantum polarization and electromagnetically induced transparency.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of quantum polarization, analyzes loss effects on quantum states, and investigates EIT with quantum light, advancing understanding of loss-induced quantum phenomena.

Findings

Losses enable control of electronic populations.

Losses induce coherent population trapping.

Quantum polarization differs fundamentally from classical polarization.

Abstract

The interaction of matter with quantum light leads to phenomena which cannot be explained by semiclassical approaches. Of particular interest are states with broad photon number distributions which allow processes with high-order Fock states. Here, we analyze a Jaynes-Cummings-type model with three electronic levels which is excited by quantum light. As quantum light we consider coherent and squeezed states. In our simulations we include several loss mechanisms, namely, dephasing, cavity, and radiative losses which are relevant in real systems. We demonstrate that losses allow one to control the population of electronic levels and may induce coherent population trapping, as well as lead to a redistribution of the photon statistics among the quantum fields and even to a transfer of the photon statistics from one field to another. Moreover, we introduce and analyze a novel quantity, the quantum polarization, and demonstrate its fundamental difference compared to the classical polarization. Using the quantum polarization and the third level population, we investigate electromagnetically induced transparency in the presence of quantum light and show its special features for the case of squeezed light. Finally, quantum correlations between fields are studied and analyzed in the presence of different types of losses.