Probing Ultrastrong Light-Matter Coupling in Open Quantum Systems

TL;DR

This paper explores how advanced coherent control can probe the unique quantum features of ultrastrong light-matter coupling in open systems, even amid decoherence, revealing potential for detecting virtual photons.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of probing quantum features of ultrastrong coupling in open systems despite decoherence effects.

Findings

Coherent control enables conversion of virtual photons to real photons.

Probing remains effective even with significant decoherence.

The method offers a robust tool for studying ultrastrong light-matter interactions.

Abstract

Dynamically probing systems of ultrastrongly coupled light and matter by advanced coherent control has been recently proposed as a unique tool for detecting peculiar quantum features of this regime. Coherence allows in principle on-demand conversion of virtual photons dressing the entangled eigenstates of the system to real ones, with unitary efficiency and remarkable robustness. Here we study this effect in the presence of decoherence, showing that also in far from ideal regimes is it possible to probe such peculiar features.