Effects of atomic state detection on microlasers with finite atomic transit time
Phys. Rev. A 114, 023724 – Published 24 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2csn-6zng
Abstract
Microlasers have emerged as a versatile platform for exploring quantum phenomena in light-matter interactions. Both photon counting and state detection of outgoing atoms are allowed for a microlaser with finite atomic transit time. However, the influence of probing atoms on microlaser dynamics and the consistency of light properties inferred from these two distinct detection schemes remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the microlaser behavior under atomic state detection. We find that the projective state determination of outgoing atoms suppresses the photon emission and, unexpectedly, narrows the spectral linewidth in the low-transit-time regime. Furthermore, the atomic state detection fails to faithfully capture intrinsic cavity field properties, yielding biased estimates of microlaser properties. This work highlights the non-negligible perturbative role of probing atoms in microlaser dynamics, with fundamental implications for quantum measurement protocols and cavity quantum electrodynamics experiments.
