The theory of the two-photon micromaser
D W G Laughlin, Sanhita Swain · Quantum Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B · 1991
The authors develop the theory of the degenerate and nondegenerate two-photon micromaser using the full, three-level Hamiltonian under conditions of overall two-photon resonance. Subject to this condition, their results are valid for arbitrary one-photon detunings, but they consider in particular the large detuning and zero detuning limits, where some simplification is possible. For the case of zero detuning, they obtain semianalytic solutions, and find that, depending upon the interaction time, the system lases as either a single-mode or a two-mode system. They have compared their results with the degenerate two-photon micromaser, and find qualitative differences. Their results are valid for arbitrary one-photon detunings, provided the interaction times are not too long. The solution to the Fokker-Planck equation is found using a detailed balance, linearization procedure, and the photon statistics is investigated. Markedly sub-Poissonian behaviour is possible under certain conditions. They find that the behaviour in the zero detuning, nondegenerate situation is quite distinct to that of all other cases.