Collective dynamics and bound states of distant quantum emitters with unequal emission rates in a chiral waveguide
Phys. Rev. A 113, 053710 – Published 8 May, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/t3sc-5r11
Abstract
We consider two 2-level quantum emitters (QEs) chirally coupled to a one-dimensional waveguide; the separations of QEs are comparable to or larger than the wavelength of its emitted photon and the electromagnetic field in a waveguide has a direction-dependent velocity. The chiral coupling induces the propagation phases acquired by the resonant photon in the waveguide and unequal emission rates of the QEs. It is found that the collective radiative decay could be enhanced for both QEs, inhibited for both QEs, enhanced for one while inhibited for the other, completely suppressed for both QEs, enhanced or inhibited for one QE while unchanged for the other, and unchanged for both QEs for appropriate parameters. In particular, the mechanism for radiation completely suppressed is the presence of a QE-photon bound state, which is superposition of the QE's dark state and the photon trapped in the region between QEs.
