Collisional decay of a strongly driven Bose-Einstein condensate

We study the collisional decay of a strongly driven Bose-Einstein condensate oscillating between two momentum modes. The resulting products of the decay are found to strongly deviate from the usual s-wave halo. Using a stochastically seeded classical field method we simulate the collisional manifold. These results are also explained by a model of colliding Bloch states.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Unraveling quantum dissipation in the frequency domain

We present a quantum Monte Carlo method for solving the evolution of an open quantum system. In our approach, the density operator evolution is unraveled in the frequency domain. Significant advantages of this approach arise when the frequency of each dissipative event conveys information about the state of the system.Comment: 4 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses RevTe

Quantum key distribution using non-classical photon number correlations in macroscopic light pulses

We propose a new scheme for quantum key distribution using macroscopic non-classical pulses of light having of the order 10^6 photons per pulse. Sub-shot-noise quantum correlation between the two polarization modes in a pulse gives the necessary sensitivity to eavesdropping that ensures the security of the protocol. We consider pulses of two-mode squeezed light generated by a type-II seeded parametric amplification process. We analyze the security of the system in terms of the effect of an eavesdropper on the bit error rates for the legitimate parties in the key distribution system. We also consider the effects of imperfect detectors and lossy channels on the security of the scheme.Comment: Modifications:added new eavesdropping attack, added more references Submitted to Physical Review A [email protected]

Quantum Mechanics and Linearized Gravitational Waves

The interaction of classical gravitational waves (GW) with matter is studied within a quantum mechanical framework. The classical equations of motion in the long wave-length limit is quantized and a Schroedinger equation for the interaction of GW with matter is proposed. Due to its quadrapole nature, the GW interacts with matter by producing squeezed quantum states. The resultant hamiltonian is quite different from one would expect from general principles, however. The interaction of GW with the free particle, the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom is then studied using this hamiltonian.Comment: 24 pages, written in REVTE

Conditional resonance-fluorescence spectra of single atoms.

Published versio

Generation of phase-coherent states

An interaction scheme involving nonlinear $\chi^{(2)}$ media is suggested for the generation of phase-coherent states (PCS). The setup is based on parametric amplification of vacuum followed by up-conversion of the resulting twin-beam. The involved nonlinear interactions are studied by the exact numerical diagonalization. An experimentally achievable working regime to approximate PCS with high conversion rate is given, and the validity of parametric approximation is discussed.Comment: To appear in PRA -- More info at http://enterprise.pv.infn.it

Local Spectral Density for a Periodically Driven System of Coupled Quantum States with Strong Imperfection in Unperturbed Energies

A random matrix theory approach is applied in order to analyze the localization properties of local spectral density for a generic system of coupled quantum states with strong static imperfection in the unperturbed energy levels. The system is excited by an external periodic field, the temporal profile of which is close to monochromatic one. The shape of local spectral density is shown to be well described by the contour obtained from a relevant model of periodically driven two-states system with irreversible losses to an external thermal bath. The shape width and the inverse participation ratio are determined as functions both of the Rabi frequency and of parameters specifying the localization effect for our system in the absence of external field.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Optics and Spectroscop

Quantum nondemolition measurements on coupled harmonic oscillators

Quantum nondemolition measurements on an harmonic-oscillator detector are discussed for two detector-meter coupling schemes: parametric amplification and parametric frequency conversion. A time-dependent solution for the density operator of the coupled detector-meter system, including damping, is obtained. A sequence of measurements via meter state reduction is analyzed

Narrow Spectral Feature In Resonance Fluorescence With A Single Monochromatic Laser Field

We describe the resonance fluorescence spectrum of an atomic three-level system where two of the states are coupled by a single monochromatic laser field. The influence of the third energy level, which interacts with the two laser-coupled states only via radiative decays, is studied in detail. For a suitable choice of parameters, this system gives rise to a very narrow structure at the laser frequency in the fluorescence spectrum which is not present in the spectrum of a two-level atom. We find those parameter ranges by a numerical analysis and use the results to derive analytical expressions for the additional narrow peak. We also derive an exact expression for the peak intensity under the assumption that a random telegraph model is applicable to the system. This model and a simple spring model are then used to describe the physical origins of the additional peak. Using these results, we explain the connection between our system, a three-level system in V-configuration where both transitions are laser driven, and a related experiment which was recently reported.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figures, extension of the spring mode

Stochastic wave function approach to the calculation of multitime correlation functions of open quantum systems

Within the framework of probability distributions on projective Hilbert space a scheme for the calculation of multitime correlation functions is developed. The starting point is the Markovian stochastic wave function description of an open quantum system coupled to an environment consisting of an ensemble of harmonic oscillators in arbitrary pure or mixed states. It is shown that matrix elements of reduced Heisenberg picture operators and general time-ordered correlation functions can be expressed by time-symmetric expectation values of extended operators in a doubled Hilbert space. This representation allows the construction of a stochastic process in the doubled Hilbert space which enables the determination of arbitrary matrix elements and correlation functions. The numerical efficiency of the resulting stochastic simulation algorithm is investigated and compared with an alternative Monte Carlo wave function method proposed first by Dalibard et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 68}, 580 (1992)]. By means of a standard example the suggested algorithm is shown to be more efficient numerically and to converge faster. Finally, some specific examples from quantum optics are presented in order to illustrate the proposed method, such as the coupling of a system to a vacuum, a squeezed vacuum within a finite solid angle, and a thermal mixture of coherent states.Comment: RevTex, 19 pages, 3 figures, uses multico