Cavity QED systems for steady-state sources of Wigner-negative light

Abstract

We present a theoretical investigation of optical cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED) systems, as described by the driven, open Jaynes–Cummings model and some of its variants, as potential sources of steady-state Wigner-negative light. We consider temporal modes in the continuous output field from the cavity and demonstrate pronounced negativity in their Wigner distributions for experimentally relevant parameter regimes. We consider models of both single and collective atomic spin systems, and find a rich structure of Wigner-distribution negativity as the spin size is varied. We also demonstrate an effective realization of all of the models considered using just a single 87Rb atom and based upon combinations of laser- and laser-plus-cavity-driven Raman transitions between magnetic sublevels in a single ground hyperfine state.