Time-Asymmetric Fluctuations of Light and the Breakdown of Detailed Balance

A. Denisov; H. M. Castro-Beltran; H. J. Carmichael

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.243601

Time-Asymmetric Fluctuations of Light and the Breakdown of Detailed Balance

A. Denisov, H. M. Castro-Beltran, and H. J. Carmichael

Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 243601 – Published 29 May 2002

Abstract

Temporal fluctuations of the light radiated by a photoemissive source are studied through the cross correlation of output fields. Whereas microscopic reversibility guarantees time-symmetric fluctuations in thermal equilibrium—where detailed balance holds—away from equilibrium time asymmetry is permitted. Examples of time asymmetry in cavity QED are reported.

Received 15 January 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.243601

Authors & Affiliations

A. Denisov¹, H. M. Castro-Beltran², and H. J. Carmichael¹

¹Department of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1274
²Centro de Investigacion en Ingenieria y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico