Work

Coherent delocalization in the light-matter interaction

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate how the coherent spreading of the center-of-mass wave function of a particle, such as an atom, molecule or ion, affects the particle's interaction with fields such as the electromagnetic field or a phonon field, in view also of possible applications to emerging quantum technologies. To this end, we develop a suitably generalized Unruh-DeWitt model for the interaction between a delocalizing first-quantized particle and a second-quantized field. We study how the coherent spreading of the center-of-mass wave function of the particle affects emission and absorption rates and we find, in particular, that in the case of a supersonic coherent spreading in a medium, there should occur Cherenkov-like emissions, along with the excitation of the particle.

Source: Physical review. D/Physical review. D.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.101.036007

Authors: Nadine Stritzelberger, Achim Kempf

Institutions: University of Waterloo, The University of Queensland, Perimeter Institute, Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Ontario Trillium Foundation, Mitacs, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

OpenAlex ID: W2995082686

FWCI: 1.836

Cites: 41

Cited by: 23

Related to: 10