A recent study led by Professor Dominik Schneble at Stony Brook University has unveiled a new regime of cooperative radiative phenomena in quantum optics, addressing a long-standing issue dating back 70 years. The research team utilized arrays of synthetic atoms and ultracold matter waves to investigate collective spontaneous emission effects. Their findings, published in Nature Physics and Physical Review Research, show how manipulating arrays of emitters supports new insights into superradiant and subradiant dynamics.
The study builds on R. H. Dicke’s 1954 theory of spontaneous emission, which proposed that introducing a second atom changes the emission dynamics. Schneble’s team demonstrated that newly created conditions allow for directional collective emission from slow atomic matter waves, in contrast to conventional photon emission. The slow speed of these matter waves makes it feasible to observe the implications of collective decay over time, an aspect previously neglected in quantum networks.
This research paves the way for advancements in quantum information science and technologies, particularly enhancing long-distance quantum networks. The team’s innovative approach establishes ultracold matter waves as valuable tools for studying many-body quantum optics, expanding the understanding of complex atomic decay processes.
