Quantum statistical properties of the Jaynes-Cummings model in the presence of a classical homogeneous gravitational field

Abstract

The temporal evolution of quantum statistical properties of an interacting atom- radiation field system in the presence of a classical homogeneous gravitational field is investigated within the framework of the Jaynes-Cummings model. To analyse the dynamical evolution of the atom-radiation system a quantum treatment of the internal and external dynamics of the atom is presented based on an alternative su(2) dynamical algebraic structure. By solving the Schrödinger equation in the interaction picture, the evolving state of the system is found by which the influence of the gravitational field on the dynamical behaviour of the atom-radiation system is explored. Assuming that initially the radiation field is prepared in a coherent state and the two-level atom is in a coherent superposition of the excited and ground states, the influence of gravity on the collapses and revivals of the atomic population inversion, atomic dipole squeezing, atomic momentum diffusion, photon counting statistics and quadrature squeezing of the radiation field is studied. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd.