Open AccessSuppressing normal mode excitation by quantum interference in a cavity-atom system
Author(s) -
Jiepeng Zhang,
Gessler Hernandez,
Yanyan Zhu
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.007860
Subject(s) - excitation , atomic physics , atom (system on chip) , cavity quantum electrodynamics , interference (communication) , optical cavity , physics , laser , coupling (piping) , opacity , spontaneous emission , optics , quantum , materials science , quantum mechanics , channel (broadcasting) , computer science , open quantum system , electrical engineering , metallurgy , embedded system , engineering
Collective coupling of multiple atoms with a cavity mode produces two normal modes that are separated in energy by Vacuum Rabi splitting. We show that the normal mode excitation of the cavity-atom system can be suppressed by coupling a control laser to the atomic system from free space. The control laser splits the normal mode of the cavity-atoms system and opens two excitation channels. The destructive quantum interference between the two channels renders the cavity-atoms system opaque to the light coupled to the cavity-atom system. We demonstrate suppression of the normal mode excitation by the destructive quantum interference in an experiment using cold Rb atoms confined in an optical cavity.