Two-photon absorption dynamics by a rectangular entangled-photon pulse with time delay

We theoretically analyze the transient dynamics in two-photon absorption (TPA) driven by a rectangular pulse consisting of entangled photons with time delay in terms of verifying the quantum virtual-state spectroscopy (VSS) method. We consider two types of three-level atomic systems: one is the atomic system having an intermediate state between ground and excited states, considered in common TPA, and another is the atomic system having an intermediate state above the excited state, assumed in the original VSS theory. We show that for common TPA configuration VSS does not occur at all, whereas for the original VSS configuration VSS-like signals can be obtained regardless of whether the incident photons are entangled or not, where photon entanglement simply contributes to the enhancement of the signal. In addition, by introducing frequency cutoff to the spectrum of incident photons, we also show that the VSS-like signal disappears even for the original VSS configuration when the intermediate state is completely virtually excited. Thus, the obtained results suggest that both the broad spectrum of incident photons causing the real excitation of intermediate state and energy configuration of intermediate state above the excited state are essential for VSS-like signals and that VSS in itself does not occur in a strict sense at least. The effect of unphysical parameters appearing in the original VSS scheme, recently theoretically predicted, is also discussed.

Automated summary

In this study, the transient dynamics of two-photon absorption driven by a rectangular pulse consisting of entangled photons with time delay is theoretically analyzed. The aim is to verify the quantum virtual-state spectroscopy (VSS) method. Two types of three-level atomic systems are considered: one with an intermediate state between the ground and excited states, and the other with an intermediate state above the excited state. The results show that VSS does not occur in the common two-photon absorption configuration, while VSS-like signals can be obtained in the original VSS configuration regardless of photon entanglement.