Master equation approach for interacting slow- and stationary-light polaritons

M. Kiffner*, Michael J. Hartmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A master equation approach for the description of dark-state polaritons in coherently driven atomic media is presented. This technique provides a description of light-matter interactions under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) that is well suited for the treatment of polariton losses. The master equation approach allows us to describe general polariton-polariton interactions that may be conservative, dissipative, or a mixture of both. In particular, it enables us to study dissipation-induced correlations as a means for the creation of strongly correlated polariton systems. Our technique reveals a loss mechanism for stationary-light polaritons that has not been discussed so far. We find that polariton losses in level configurations with nondegenerate ground states can be a multiple of those in level schemes with degenerate ground states.

Original languageEnglish
Article number033813
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume82
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Sept 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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