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Quantum Rabi Oscillation: A Direct Test of Field Quantization in a Cavity

M. Brune, F. Schmidt-Kaler, A. Maali, J. Dreyer, E. Hagley, J. M. Raimond, and S. Haroche
Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1800 – Published 11 March 1996
An article within the collection: The Physical Review Journals Celebrate The International Year of Light
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Abstract

We have observed the Rabi oscillation of circular Rydberg atoms in the vacuum and in small coherent fields stored in a high Q cavity. The signal exhibits discrete Fourier components at frequencies proportional to the square root of successive integers. This provides direct evidence of field quantization in the cavity. The weights of the Fourier components yield the photon number distribution in the field. This investigation of the excited levels of the atom-cavity system reveals nonlinear quantum features at extremely low field strengths.

  • Received 9 November 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.1800

©1996 American Physical Society

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This article appears in the following collection:

The Physical Review Journals Celebrate The International Year of Light

The editors of the Physical Review journals revisit papers that represent important breakthroughs in the field of optics.

Authors & Affiliations

M. Brune, F. Schmidt-Kaler, A. Maali, J. Dreyer, E. Hagley, J. M. Raimond, and S. Haroche

  • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Département de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, 24 rue Lhomond, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France

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Issue

Vol. 76, Iss. 11 — 11 March 1996

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