Work

Optimally driving multiphoton transitions in the perturbative single-mode regime

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The rate of m -photon transitions in matter, induced by an incident light field, depends on the field's m th -order coherence function. Consequently, the coherence properties of the light field may be shaped to increase the rate of multiphoton transitions. Here, we determine the optimal state of a weak fixed-intensity, narrow-band incident light field, with a restricted maximal photon number, that optimally drives m -photon transitions in the case of a short-lived atomic multilevel system. We show that, in this case, no quantum properties of the light field need to be exploited, but that classical mixtures of coherent states are optimal.

Source: Physical Review A

DOI: 10.1103/s5fb-yljk

Authors: Frieder Lindel, Stefan Yoshi Buhmann, Andreas Buchleitner, Edoardo G. Carnio

Institutions: University of Freiburg, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University of Kassel

Language: English

Topic: Quantum optics and atomic interactions

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,675

Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Agencia Estatal de Investigación