Tunable non-Markovian dynamics with a three-level atom mediated by the classical laser in a semi-infinite photonic waveguide

Abstract

In this work, we investigate the non-Markovian (NM) dynamical evolution of a three-level atom coupled to a semi-infinite one-dimensional photonic waveguide and driven by a classical driving field. The single-end of waveguide behaves as a perfect mirror while light can pass through the opposite end with no backreflection. We derive the exact analytical expressions for the wave function of the driven three-level atom by solving a set of delay differential equations and give the conditions of atom-photon bound state formation that can inhibit the dissipation, which appears in the atom-mirror interspace in order to trap a considerable amount of initial atomic excitation. We show that when the evolution time of the system is shorter than the time delay taken by a photon to perform a round trip between the atom and mirror, the atomic dynamics exhibits Markovian properties, which depend on the driving strength and rescaled parameters. If the evolution time of the system exceeds the time delay, the photon can be reabsorbed by the atom with the photon emitted by the atom having completed the round trip, which exhibits NM memory effects, where the population eventually convergences to the finite-steady values. We also study the influence of the loss and dephasing on the formation of a bound state. Finally, the above results are extended to a more general quantum system involving single-end photonic waveguide coupled to an arbitrary number of noninteracting three-level atoms driven by the driving fields. The presented formalism might open a way to better understand exactly the NM dynamics of driven multilevel atoms coupled to a semi-infinite waveguide.