Interpolation from number states to chaotic states of the electromagnetic field

Abstract

We introduce new two-parameter states of the quantized radiation field interpolating from number states to chaotic states. Instead of dealing with pure states, we consider truncated mixtures of number states - number-chaotic states (NCS) - which reduce to number and chaotic (thermal) states in two well-defined limits. We study the statistical and squeezing properties of such states and show that there is a value of the chaoticity parameter bar n at which a transition from sub- to super-Poissonian characteristics occurs. Analysing the atomic population inversion in the Jaynes-Cummings model for these NCSs, we demonstrate the appearance of collapses and revivals as bar n is increased. Their phase space representations are studied emphasizing the changes as the parameters are varied and we discuss the nonclassical depth.