Semiclassical and quantum nonlinear spectra of a strongly coupled single Λ-type three-level atom-cavity QED system

Abstract

We present detailed numerical simulations of semiclassical and quantum spectra of a cavity QED system consisting of a single three-level atom in Λ-configuration interacting with a quantized cavity mode through one of its transitions while its other transition is driven by a coherent classical field. We compute the semiclassical and quantum spectra of the system under various levels of external driving field strengths. In the semiclassical approach, we neglect the correlations between the cavity and atomic operators, whereas in the quantum case no such assumption is made. Our results show that the two approaches yield identical results under sufficiently weak driving field conditions. However, the two approaches yield starkly different results at stronger driving field intensities: the fully quantum approach yields a well-defined multiphoton spectrum whereas the semiclassical approach results in a bistable spectrum. Furthermore, our calculations reveal a complex Raman structure at the position of the dark-state transition.