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Cited by 124Quantum optics and atomic interactionsQuantum Information and CryptographyStrong Light-Matter Interactions

Environment-Assisted Speed-up of the Field Evolution in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics

Open access
Cimmarusti, A. D., Yan, Z., Patterson, B. D., Corcos, L. P., Orozco, L. A., Deffner, S.·2015·Physical Review Letters
DOI 10.1103/physrevlett.114.233602
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Abstract

We measure the quantum speed of the state evolution of the field in a weakly driven optical cavity QED system. To this end, the mode of the electromagnetic field is considered as a quantum system of interest with a preferential coupling to a tunable environment: the atoms. By controlling the environment, i.e., changing the number of atoms coupled to the optical cavity mode, an environment-assisted speed-up is realized: the quantum speed of the state repopulation in the optical cavity increases with the coupling strength between the optical cavity mode and this non-Markovian environment (the number of atoms).

Verified 2026-10-06 · 25 references not checked yet

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1103/physrevlett.114.233602

Cites

15 of 40 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 12 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Non-Markovianity persists after averaging over the random spatial distribution of atoms.

    “Note that Fig.5also indicates that the non-Markovianity survives the averaging over the random distribution of atoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The master equation model assumes static, maximally coupled atoms to the cavity field with zero cavity and atomic detuning.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The weak-driving condition ε/κ ≪ 1 is sufficient for a perturbative treatment.
  • Findingown data

    The rate at which the cavity field repopulates rises as the coupling between the cavity mode and the atomic environment increases, i.e., as the number of atoms grows.

    “an environment-assisted speed-up is realized: the quantum speed of the state repopulation in the optical cavity increases with the coupling strength between the optical cavity mode and this non-Markovian environment (the number of atoms).”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · boosted
      “Our measurements clearly show the theoretically predicted environment-assisted speed-up with its nonlinear dependence on the number of atoms.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · boosted
      “The reported experiment first demonstrated the theoretically predicted environmentassisted speed-up.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingreasoning

    There is a threshold for non-Markovian behavior, occurring at about one atom.

    “and that there is a threshold for starting to observe non-Markovian behavior.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · boosted
      “the threshold at N ≃ 1 to observe non-Markovianity is clearly visible.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The master equation model assumes static, maximally coupled atoms to the cavity field with zero cavity and atomic detuning.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The weak-driving condition ε/κ ≪ 1 is sufficient for a perturbative treatment.
  • Findingown data

    The refined model simulation yields a refilling-rate slope of 0.29 ± 0.02 per microsecond per megahertz against the vacuum Rabi frequency.

    “The inset (red dots) shows the result of a simulation with slope 0.29 Æ 0.02 μs -1 =MHz, of the refined model.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    The measured g2(τ) reaches unity only after a long time, which is a remnant of the atoms' transit time through the cavity mode.

    “g 2 ðτÞ reaches unity only after a long time, which is a remnant of the transit time of the atoms through the cavity mode [26].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims. 11
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 5

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Changing the number of atoms alters the time-dependent nonclassical intensity correlation function and accelerates the cavity field's evolution in a regime where clear oscillations are absent.

    “We demonstrate that increasing the interaction of the optical cavity field with the environment by tuning the number of atoms modifies the time-dependent nonclassical intensity correlation function, enhancing-speeding up-the rate of evolution of the cavity field in a range with no clear oscillations present.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    For the explored parameters, transmission spectroscopy shows a clear splitting while the corresponding time oscillations are absent from the correlation functions; an oscillatory regime is observed at higher dispenser currents.

    “We observe a clear splitting on the transmission spectroscopy while on the correlation functions the corresponding time oscillations are not present [26] for the range of parameters that we explore in this paper; however we do observe the oscillatory regime for higher dispenser currents in the MOT.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    The averaged non-Markovianity measure for the phenomenological model increases with atom number and depends linearly on the vacuum Rabi frequency, which is proportional to the square root of the effective atom number.

    “We observe that the non-Markovianity increases with the number of atoms, and that there is a threshold for starting to observe non-Markovian behavior.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “The averaged line shows a linear dependence with the vacuum Rabi frequency that is proportional to ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi N eff p .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The master equation model assumes static, maximally coupled atoms to the cavity field with zero cavity and atomic detuning.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The weak-driving condition ε/κ ≪ 1 is sufficient for a perturbative treatment.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    The experiment can identify nonclassical antibunching and measure the time needed for the system to relax to its steady state.

    “Nevertheless, we can identify the nonclassical feature of antibunching and measure the time the system needs to relax back to its steady state.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The measured refilling rate grows linearly with the vacuum Rabi frequency, with a fitted slope of 0.24 ± 0.03 per microsecond per megahertz and reduced chi-square 1.67.

    “Figure 4 shows the growth of the rate of refilling (blue circles) as a function of Ω VR , for which we expect a linear dependence.The dashed straight line is a fit with slope 0.24 Æ 0.03 μs -1 =MHz, with reduced χ 2 ¼ 1.67.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “The speed increases linearly as a function of Ω VR .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The spatial distribution of atoms, which creates a broadband of couplings, is important for treating the atoms as a non-Markovian reservoir, as the predicted square-root-N behavior is observed.

    “The spatial distribution of the atoms, producing a broadband of couplings, plays a major role in allowing us to treat them as a non-Markovian reservoir as we do see the predicted ffiffiffiffi N p behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The observed speed-up agrees with theoretical predictions that stronger coupling speeds up evolution in cavity QED, and it differs from adiabatically eliminated cases where the atom-number dependence does not appear in the nonclassical correlation function.

    “This is in agreement with theoretical predictions [14] that observe a speed-up as the coupling increases in a cavity QED system and in contrast to the dependence of N in the adiabatically eliminated cases stated above, that do not show in the nonclassical correlation function.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Spurious electronic noise makes the fluctuations larger than purely statistical.

    “Spurious electronic noise makes the fluctuations larger than purely statistical.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The speed-up reported here is physically equivalent to the quantum speed limit behavior predicted in Ref. [14], although this work studies field dynamics while Ref. [14] studied atoms.

    “Before we continue the discussion with the experimental results, note that the speed-up proposed here is physically equivalent to the behavior of the QSL predicted in Ref. [14].However, here we are interested in the dynamics of the field, whereas Ref. [14] focused on the atoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    For simple quantum systems such as the Jaynes-Cummings model, a measure of non-Markovianity can be introduced.

    “However, for simple quantum systems such as the Jaynes-Cummings model the situation drastically simplifies and a measure of non-Markovianity (N ) can be introduced [36].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [36] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The geometry and detection scheme limit the state purity and signal background.

    “The geometry and the detection that we use place limitations on the state purity and signal background.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Reference [14] analyzes the damped Jaynes-Cummings model, which describes many cavity QED systems.

    “Reference [14] analyzes the dynamics of the damped Jaynes-Cummings model, which describes many cavity QED systems.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    A recent theoretical study hinted that speed-ups of quantum evolution could be observed when an open quantum system undergoes environmental changes.

    “On the theoretical side, a recent study [14] hinted at the possibility of observing speed-ups of the quantum evolution if an open quantum system is subject to environmental changes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Treating the cavity field as a system coupled to a tunable environment produced a fully accessible quantum system that obeys non-Markovian dynamics.

    “Second, by considering the cavity field as a system coupled to a tunable environment we realized a fully accessible quantum system obeying non-Markovian dynamics.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Non-Markovian dynamics are characterized by information backflow from the environment, and convergence to the stationary state is accompanied by oscillations.

    “Non-Markovian dynamics are characterized by an information backflow from the environment, and the convergence of ρðtÞ towards the stationary state is accompanied by oscillations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [36] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The threshold for non-Markovian behavior can be understood intuitively: the environment must be correlated, and to be correlated it must contain at least one atom.

    “This threshold can be understood intuitively: To have non-Markovian behavior the environment has to be correlated; to be correlated the environment has to consist of at least one atom.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The master equation model assumes static, maximally coupled atoms to the cavity field with zero cavity and atomic detuning.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The weak-driving condition ε/κ ≪ 1 is sufficient for a perturbative treatment.
16 of 16

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The master equation model assumes static, maximally coupled atoms to the cavity field with zero cavity and atomic detuning.

    “This master equation model (1) assumes static, maximally coupled atoms to the cavity field with zero cavity and atomic detuning.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The weak-driving condition ε/κ ≪ 1 is sufficient for a perturbative treatment.

    “In the limit of weak driving, ε=κ ≪ 1, a perturbative treatment is possible.”
2 of 2

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. L. Mandelstam, 1945, J. Phys., 9, 249

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Related

Authors
Cimmarusti, A. D., Yan, Z., Patterson, B. D., Corcos, L. P., Orozco, L. A., & Deffner, S.
Affiliations
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (US)
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
ORCID
Venue
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Published
2015-06-11
Volume
114
Issue
23
Pages
233602-233602
ISSN
  • 0031-9007 (ISSN-L)
  • 1079-7114
DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.114.233602
OpenAlex
W1563163696
Cited by
124
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 4
FWCI
7.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Physical Review Letters (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
  • Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
  • Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (University of Maryland College Park) (public-domain)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (1307416)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (11304190)
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • UMD (12)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum optics and atomic interactions
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Quantum Information and Cryptography
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Strong Light-Matter Interactions
Keywords
cavity quantum electrodynamics, optical cavity modes, non-Markovian dynamics, atom-cavity coupling, open quantum systems

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