Tangent and cotangent states of the electromagnetic field

Journal Article · Sat Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.3867· OSTI ID:7120711

Slosser, J J ^[1]; Meystre, P ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (USA)
2. Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (USA)

We consider a lossless micromaser in which a monoenergetic, low-density beam of two-level atoms in a coherent superposition of their upper and lower states is injected inside a single-mode high-{ital Q} cavity. This is a realization of a harmonic oscillator driven by a quantum current. We find that under appropriate conditions the field may evolve to pure states, which we call tangent and cotangent states, even for mixed-state initial conditions. In various limits, they exhibit nonclassical properties such as sub-Poissonian photon statistics, or even more interestingly acquire the characteristics of macroscopic'' quantum superpositions. The conditions under which these states are reached, as well as the dynamical approach of the system to steady state, are discussed in detail.

• OSTI ID: 7120711
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA) Vol. 41:7; ISSN PLRAA; ISSN 0556-2791
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
AMPLIFIERS
BEAM INJECTION
CAVITY RESONATORS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUIPMENT
HARMONIC OSCILLATORS
MASERS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
OSCILLATORS
PHOTONS
RESONATORS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS