Non-Markovian transient Casimir-Polder force and population dynamics on excited- and ground-state atoms: Weak- and strong-coupling regimes in generally nonreciprocal environments

Abstract

The transient Casimir-Polder force on a two-level atom introduced into a three-dimensional, inhomogeneous, generally non-reciprocal environment is evaluated using non-Markovian Weisskopf-Wigner theory in the strong and weak coupling regimes. Ground-state and excited atoms are considered as two separate initial-value problems, and both the short-time and long-time atomic population and force are evaluated. The results are compared with various Markov approximation of the Weisskopf-Wigner theory, and with previous Markov results from the Heisenberg picture. arXiv:1811.05609v2 [quant-ph]

The Langevin Noise Approach for Lossy Media and the Lossless Limit

“…More complicated environments, including nonlocal, and nonreciprocal media, have also been considered [17], [20]- [23]. The conclusions described below hold for generally lossy, inhomogeneous, nonreciprocal media…”

“…Motivated by the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, [4]- [19]-describe macroscopic quantum electrodynamics (QED) as inspired by its nature as the quantum version of classical macroscopic electrodynamics-is a phenomenological dipolar, fully quantum, macroscopic theory developed to accommodate lossy, dispersive materials and open environments. It has been widely applied to a variety of problems since it is expressed in terms of the Green function, and allows for very general media, including anisotropic, nonreciprocal, and nonlocal materials [17], [20]- [23]. For inhomogeneous, complex-shaped regions, the Green function can be computed numerically [55].…”

“…As a first example, in this section we consider introducing an excited-state atom at r = r 0 , t = 0 into a structured reservoir [23], comparing the normal-mode QED and Langevin noise approaches in the context of 3D quantization in the limit Im (ε (r, ω)) → 0.…”

Fluctuation-dissipation theorem and fundamental photon commutation relations in lossy nanostructures using quasinormal modes

“…Over two decades ago, a seminal phenomenological quantization approach for general absorbing and dispersive spatial-inhomogeneous media [15] based on earlier work of Huttner and Barnett [16,17] as well as Hopfield [18] was introduced. The theory has already been successfully applied to many technologically interesting quantum optical scenarios, e.g., input-output in multilayered absorbing structures [19], active quantum emitters in the vicinity of a metal sphere [20,21], the vacuum Casimir effect [22], strong coupling effects in quantum plasmonics [23,24], and non-Markovian dynamics in nonreciprocal environments [25].…”

Fluctuation-dissipation theorem and fundamental photon commutation relations in lossy nanostructures using quasinormal modes

“…Over two decades ago, a seminal phenomenological quantization approach for general absorbing and dispersive spatialinhomogeneous media 15 based on preliminary work of Huttner and Barnett 16,17 as well as Hopfield 18 was introduced. The theory has already been successfully applied to many technologically interesting quantum optical scenarios, e.g., input-output in multilayered absorbing structures 19 , active quantum emitters in the vicinity of a metal sphere 20,21 , the vacuum Casimir effect 22 , strong coupling effects in quantum plasmonics 23,24 , and non-Markovian dynamics in nonreciprocal environments 25 .…”