Stability of excited atoms in small cavities

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Flores-Hidalgo, G, Malbouisson, A P C, Milla, Y W
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 12.08.2002
• Subjects: Energy distribution; Harmonic oscillators; Holes; Microwave frequencies
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0111042

We consider a system consisting of an atom in the approximation of a harmonic oscillator of frequency \(\bar{\omega}\), coupled to the scalar potential inside a spherical reflecting cavity of radius R. We use {\it dressed} states introduced in a previous publication [Andion, Malbouisson and Matos Neto, J. Phys. A34, 3735 (2001)], which allow a non-perturbative unified description of the atom radiation process, in both cases, of a finite or an arbitrarily large cavity. We perform a study of the energy distribution in a small cavity, with the initial condition that the atom is in the first excited state and we conclude for the quasi-stability of the excited atom. For instance, for a frequency \(\bar{\omega}\) of the order \(\bar{\omega}\sim 4.00\times 10^{14}/s\) (in the visible red), starting from the initial condition that the atom is in the first excited level, we find that for a cavity with diameter \(2R\sim 1.0\times 10^{-6}m\), the probability that the atom be at any time still in the first excited level, will be of the order of 97%. For a typical microwave frequency \(\bar{\omega}\sim 2,00\times 10^{10}/s\) we find stability in the first excited state also of the order of 97% for a cavity radius \(R\sim 1.4\times 10^{-2}m\).