Quantum theory of a two-photon micromaser

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.36.3771· OSTI ID:6134174

Davidovich, L; Raimond, J M; Brune, M; Haroche, S

We present the quantum theory of a microscopic maser operating on a degenerate two-photon transition between levels of the same parity. We derive both a master equation and a Fokker-Planck equation for this system, and show that quantum effects may have a substantial influence on the behavior of the maser. They modify the oscillation threshold and make external triggering of this maser unnecessary, whereas, according to semiclassical theory, such a triggering is required to start up the maser oscillation. We derive the phase-diffusion properties of the field and show that the diffusion coefficient is complex in this case, its imaginary part being associated with a frequency shift of the field inside the cavity. We show that, in steady state, the photon-number statistics is sub-Poissonian for a wide range of pumping rates.

• Research Organization: Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Hertzienne de l'Ecole Normale Superieure, 24, rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
• OSTI ID: 6134174
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 36:8; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFIERS
CAVITY RESONATORS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
FIELD THEORIES
FLUCTUATIONS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
MASERS
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
RESONATORS
VARIATIONS