The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon
We study the propagation of a quantum field composed of a few photons interacting with a three-level Λ-atom driven by a coherent classical field. The quantum field acquires a phase shift, which can be interpreted as a dispersion effect on the photon wave packet and described by the refractive index...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frqst.2025.1546480/full |
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| author | Jacob Emerick Jacob Emerick Anil K. Patnaik Yuri Rostovtsev Yuri Rostovtsev |
| author_facet | Jacob Emerick Jacob Emerick Anil K. Patnaik Yuri Rostovtsev Yuri Rostovtsev |
| author_sort | Jacob Emerick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We study the propagation of a quantum field composed of a few photons interacting with a three-level Λ-atom driven by a coherent classical field. The quantum field acquires a phase shift, which can be interpreted as a dispersion effect on the photon wave packet and described by the refractive index for quantum fields down to the single-photon level. In this paper, we demonstrate that the phases acquired by quantum fields depend on the number of photons in the quantum states. Notably, the phases differ between single- and two-photon states, enabling the separation of multiphoton states. This finding highlights new applications related to the dispersion of three-level atoms, which are important in advancing quantum information processing and enhancing quantum communication technologies. The results are crucial for long-distance quantum communication and hold potential for developing quantum field-based linear devices such as beam splitters, lenses, and quantum prisms capable of separating different components of quantum fields. The findings can have interesting applications for manipulating and assembling of multiphoton entanglement states. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bec65c7845d54fc3bb698cc3577a3f14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-2181 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bec65c7845d54fc3bb698cc3577a3f142025-08-20T03:53:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology2813-21812025-04-01410.3389/frqst.2025.15464801546480The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photonJacob Emerick0Jacob Emerick1Anil K. Patnaik2Yuri Rostovtsev3Yuri Rostovtsev4Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Denton, OH, United StatesCenter for Nonlinear Sciences and Department of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United StatesAir Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Denton, OH, United StatesAir Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Denton, OH, United StatesCenter for Nonlinear Sciences and Department of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United StatesWe study the propagation of a quantum field composed of a few photons interacting with a three-level Λ-atom driven by a coherent classical field. The quantum field acquires a phase shift, which can be interpreted as a dispersion effect on the photon wave packet and described by the refractive index for quantum fields down to the single-photon level. In this paper, we demonstrate that the phases acquired by quantum fields depend on the number of photons in the quantum states. Notably, the phases differ between single- and two-photon states, enabling the separation of multiphoton states. This finding highlights new applications related to the dispersion of three-level atoms, which are important in advancing quantum information processing and enhancing quantum communication technologies. The results are crucial for long-distance quantum communication and hold potential for developing quantum field-based linear devices such as beam splitters, lenses, and quantum prisms capable of separating different components of quantum fields. The findings can have interesting applications for manipulating and assembling of multiphoton entanglement states.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frqst.2025.1546480/fullphotonsquantum fieldsquantum opticsthree-level atomsinterferenceMach–Zehnder interferometer |
| spellingShingle | Jacob Emerick Jacob Emerick Anil K. Patnaik Yuri Rostovtsev Yuri Rostovtsev The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon Frontiers in Quantum Science and Technology photons quantum fields quantum optics three-level atoms interference Mach–Zehnder interferometer |
| title | The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon |
| title_full | The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon |
| title_fullStr | The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon |
| title_full_unstemmed | The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon |
| title_short | The refractive index of a single three-level atom experienced by a single photon |
| title_sort | refractive index of a single three level atom experienced by a single photon |
| topic | photons quantum fields quantum optics three-level atoms interference Mach–Zehnder interferometer |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frqst.2025.1546480/full |
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