Date Published: May 14, 2025
Kanu Sinha, assistant professor of optical sciences at the University of Arizona, is co-author of a recent publication in New Journal of Physics, “Spontaneous emission near quantum mirrors.” The study explores how quantum superpositions of boundary conditions can influence the behavior of light emitted by atoms. Using arrays of three-level atoms coupled to a waveguide, the team engineered “quantum mirrors” that can reflect or transmit light depending on their quantum state.
This setup allows a nearby excited atom to emit light into a field that is itself in a quantum superposition, entangled with the mirror atoms. One especially striking result involves placing an atom between two such mirrors to form a “quantum cavity.” In this configuration, the atom can simultaneously undergo Rabi oscillations and decay freely, an effect governed by the quantum state of the mirrors.
“These results open up a new regime where boundary conditions themselves behave quantum mechanically,” Sinha said. “It’s a step toward rethinking how we understand light-matter interactions at a fundamental level.”
Dr. Sinha acknowledges the support from the National Science Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and Army Research Office. Read the full article.