Polariton interaction in one-dimensional arrays of atoms coupled to waveguides

TL;DR

This paper provides an analytical framework for understanding photon dynamics in a one-dimensional atomic array coupled to waveguides, revealing inelastic collisions and offering a basis for many-body quantum studies.

Contribution

It introduces a fully analytical effective field theory describing photon-atom interactions in infinite arrays, including inelastic collisions and various parameter regimes.

Findings

Inelastic collisions occur in infinite systems.

The theory models photon scattering and ejection.

Applicable to many-body quantum dynamics studies.

Abstract

Photons strongly coupled to material systems constitute a novel system for studying the dynamics of non-equilibrium quantum many-body systems. We give a fully analytical description of the dynamics of photons coupled to a one-dimensional array of two-level atoms. The description incorporates input, scattering inside the medium, and the ejection of photons from the array. We show that inelastic collisions, previously identified in small systems, also occur in infinite systems and elucidate the physics behind this effect. The developed theory constitutes an effective field theory for the dynamics, which can be used as a starting point for studies of many-body dynamics. We discuss different parameter regimes and touch upon possible applications and the limit of many excitations.