Speaker
Description
Decoherence is usually considered detrimental in quantum information and quantum optics applications. However, the interplay between environment dynamics and unitary evolution can give rise to interesting quantum many-body phenomena and can even be harnessed to become a useful resource.
As it is well known, in dense atomic arrays coupled to a common radiation mode, collective spontaneous emission occurs, leading to the emergence of very subradiant states [1]. Here, we demonstrate how these modes in combination with additional decoherence mechanisms such as dephasing or a global thermalizing bath, can significantly enhance the single-photon absorption cross-section in nanorings of quantum emitters. The nanoring geometry is particularly appealing due to its unique optical properties [2] and its resemblance to natural light-harvesting complexes, which serve as efficient antennas in photosynthesis [3,4]. Despite the complexity of these biological systems, our findings suggest they may exploit similar principles, potentially shedding light on fundamental aspects of energy absorption and transfer in nature.
[1] A. Asenjo-Garcia, M. Moreno-Cardoner et al., PRX 7, 031024 (2017).
[2] M. Moreno-Cardoner, D. Plankensteiner, L. Ostermann, D.E. Chang, H. Ritsch, PRA 100, 023806 (2019).
[3] J.L. Herek et al., Nature 417, 533 (2002).
[4] M. Moreno-Cardoner, R. Holzinger, H. Ritsch, Optics Express 30, 10779 (2022).
