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Superfluorescence Experiments

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Dissipative Systems in Quantum Optics

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Physics ((TCPHY,volume 27))

Abstract

Superfluorescence (SF) is the cooperative emission of a system of many two-level atoms which are all in the upper state initially. The conditions for observing SF and the techniques employed are discussed. The various experiments are surveyed and their major contributions summarized. Single-pulse observations in cesium vapor are emphasized. The discrepancy between the ringing predicted by uniform-plane-wave simulations of Maxwell-Bloch equations and the absence of ringing in the cesium data is attributed to transverse effects. The theory of the quantum initiation of SF is reviewed. Good agreement is found between quantum predictions and cesium data for the initial tipping angle and quantum fluctuations in the delay time. Effects of sample length, Fresnel number, degeneracies, beats, and polarization are also discussed. Some open questions are outlined.

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Authors
  1. Q. H. F. Vrehen
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  2. H. M. Gibbs
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Scienze Fisiche “Aldo Pontremoli”, Universita degli Studi de Milano, Via Celoria 16, I-20133, Milano, Italy

    Rodolfo Bonifacio

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Vrehen, Q.H.F., Gibbs, H.M. (1982). Superfluorescence Experiments. In: Bonifacio, R. (eds) Dissipative Systems in Quantum Optics. Topics in Current Physics, vol 27. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-81717-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-81717-5_6

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