Effects of photon statistics in wave mixing on a single qubit

TL;DR

This paper investigates how mixing classical and nonclassical photon fields affects a single qubit, revealing unique spectral features that can be used to analyze nonclassical light properties.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for wave mixing with a single qubit involving nonclassical light, highlighting distinct spectral signatures.

Findings

Side peaks differ when mixing classical and nonclassical light.

Certain peaks are absent in nonclassical mixing scenarios.

Peak amplitudes can probe photon statistics.

Abstract

We theoretically consider wave mixing under the irradiation of a single qubit by two photon fields. The first signal is a classical monochromatic drive, while the second one is a nonclassical light. Particularly, we address two examples of a nonclassical light: (i) a broadband squeezed light and (ii) a periodically excited quantum superposition of Fock states with 0 and 1 photons. The mixing of classical and nonclassical photon fields gives rise to side peaks due to the elastic multiphoton scattering. We show that side peaks structure is distinct from the situation when two classical fields are mixed. The most striking feature is that some peaks are absent. The analysis of peak amplitudes can be used to probe photon statistics in the nonclassical mode.