Markovian and non-markovian behavior in two-level atom fluorescence

✍ Scribed by K. Wódkiewicz; J.H. Eberly

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1000 KB
• Volume: 101
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-4916
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-4916(76)90023-3

✦ Synopsis

We extend the quantum source field method to demonstrate the non-Markovian character of the quantum electrodynamic Bloch equations. Explicit solutions are obtained, via a natural perturbation technique, for the vacuum expectation value of the two-level atomic inversion operator. The most obvious evidence for the non-Markovian character of the Bloch equations is the nonexponential nature of the fluorescence decay law. We demonstrate our perturbation technique further by applying it to the two-level strong-field resonance fluorescence problem, obtaining the results of Torrey, of Mollow, and of Heitler, in the appropriate limits. The entire analysis is carried out in the Heisenberg picture, allowing us to deal directly at every stage with the relevant dynamical variable of interest.