Dynamical decoherence in a cavity with a large number of two-level atoms

Abstract

We consider a large number of two-level atoms interacting with the mode of a cavity in the rotating-wave approximation (Tavis–Cummings model). We apply the Holstein–Primakoff transformation to study the model in the limit of the number of two-level atoms, all in their ground state, becoming very large. The unitary evolution that we obtain in this approximation is applied to a macroscopic superposition state showing that, when the coherent states forming the superposition are distant enough, then the state collapses on a single coherent state describing a classical radiation mode. This appears as a true dynamical effect that could be observed in experiments with cavities.