Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: The area theorem states that when a short optical pulse drives a quantum two-level system, it undergoes Rabi oscillations in the probability of scattering a single photon. In this work, we investigate the breakdown of the area theorem as both the pulse length becomes non-negligible and for certain pulse areas. Using simple quantum trajectories, we provide an analytic approximation to the photon emission dynamics of a two-level system. Our model provides an intuitive way to understand re-excitation, which elucidates the mechanism behind the two-photon emission events that can spoil single-photon emission. We experimentally measure the emission statistics from a semiconductor quantum dot, acting as a two-level system, and show good agreement with our simple model for short pulses. Additionally, the model clearly explains our recent results (Fischer and Hanschke 2017 et al Nat. Phys. ) showing dominant two-photon emission from a two-level system for pulses with interaction areas equal to an even multiple of π .
Source: Quantum Science and Technology
Authors: Kevin A Fischer, Lukas Hanschke, Malte Kremser, Jonathan J Finley, Kai Müller, Jelena Vučković
Institutions: Stanford University, Technical University of Munich
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,895
Funders: National Science Foundation, International Max Planck Research School for Environmental, Cellular and Molecular Microbiology, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Bayerisch-Kalifornischen Hochschulzentrum, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate, Division of Materials Research
OpenAlex ID: W2747909354