Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
06:51
Confocal Microscopy Reveals Cell Surface Receptor Aggregation Through Image Correlation Spectroscopy
Published on: August 2, 2018
7.6K
Emergence of Second-Order Coherence in Superfluorescence
Constanze Bach1, Felix Tebbenjohanns1, Christian Liedl1
1Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Physics, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|March 1, 2026
Summary
Researchers observed emerging second-order quantum coherence during superfluorescence in a cesium atom system. This finding reveals collective dynamics and shot-to-shot fluctuations in superradiant bursts.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Atomic physics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Superradiance involves collective emission from excited atoms.
- Cascaded quantum systems exhibit unique light-matter interactions.
- Quantum coherence is crucial for understanding quantum phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate second-order quantum coherence in a superradiant burst.
- To explore the relationship between coherence, collective dynamics, and initial atomic states.
- To study shot-to-shot fluctuations in superfluorescence emission delays.
Main Methods:
- Chirally coupling ~900 cesium atoms to an optical nanofiber.
- Preparing the atomic ensemble near the maximally excited state.
- Measuring the second-order coherence function and photon emission correlations.
Main Results:
- Observed the emergence of second-order coherence during superfluorescence decay.
- Demonstrated that coherence is a signature of collective dynamics.
- Found evidence of fundamental shot-to-shot fluctuations in burst emission delay.
Conclusions:
- Second-order coherence dynamics are linked to collective effects in superradiance.
- Superradiance in cascaded systems shows similarities to other coupling schemes.
- Experimental findings provide insights into quantum fluctuations and collective emission.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
14.7K
Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been...
14.7K
01:25Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation
1.7K
Fluorometers and spectrofluorometers are two types of instruments used for measuring molecular fluorescence. These instruments differ in how they select excitation and emission wavelengths and the type of light sources they utilize. Fluorometers use absorption interference filters to choose excitation and emission wavelengths. The excitation source in a fluorometer is typically a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp that emits intense lines distributed throughout the ultraviolet and visible regions.
1.7K
01:05Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy
13.6K
Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or TIRF is an advanced microscopic technique used to visualize fluorophores in samples close to a solid surface with a higher refractive index, such as a glass coverslip. TIRF only allows fluorophores in proximity to the solid surface to be excited. When light from a medium with a lower refractive index (such as air) hits the glass coverslip at a critical angle, the light undergoes total internal reflection stead of passing through the glass.
13.6K
01:16Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
21.5K
Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...
21.5K
01:02¹H NMR: Interpreting Distorted and Overlapping Signals
1.6K
Spin systems where the difference in chemical shifts of the coupled nuclei is greater than ten times J are called first-order spin systems. These nuclei are weakly coupled, and their chemical shifts and coupling constant can generally be estimated from the well-separated signals in the spectrum.
As Δν decreases and the signals move closer, the doublets appear increasingly distorted. The intensities of the inner lines increase at the cost of those of the outer lines as the signals are...
As Δν decreases and the signals move closer, the doublets appear increasingly distorted. The intensities of the inner lines increase at the cost of those of the outer lines as the signals are...
1.6K
01:26Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
1.7K
Fluorescence and phosphorescence are essential phenomena in fields like analytical chemistry, biological imaging, and materials science, where they detect molecular properties and visualize cellular structures. Understanding the variables that influence these luminescent behaviors is crucial for maximizing accuracy and efficiency in their applications. These variables can broadly be grouped into chemical structure, solvent properties, and external conditions, each playing a distinct role in...
1.7K