Phys.org April 27, 2023
Many previous experimental cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) studies have focused on regimes in which a small number of identical emitters interact with a weak external drive such that the system can be described with simple, effective models. However, the dynamics of a disordered, many-body quantum system subject to a strong drive have not been fully explored, despite its importance and potential in quantum applications. A team of researchers in the US (Caltech, University of Oklahoma) studying inhomogeneously broadened ensemble of solid-state emitters coupled with high cooperativity to a nanophotonic resonator under strong excitation discovered a sharp, collectively induced transparency (CIT) in the cavity reflection spectrum, resulting from quantum interference and collective response induced by the interplay between driven inhomogeneous emitters and cavity photons. The coherent excitation within the CIT window led to highly nonlinear optical emission, spanning from fast super radiance to slow subradiance. These phenomena in the many-body cQED regime enable new mechanisms for achieving slow light and frequency referencing, pave a way towards solid-state super radiant lasers and inform the development of ensemble-based quantum interconnects… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Observation and analysis of dissipative many-body cavity emission. Credit: Nature (2023)