An exact analysis of spontaneous emission by a single two level atom in the rotating wave approximation

The problem of a single two level atom in its excited state, placed in a cavity in which no photons are present initially, and interacting with N modes of the electromagnetic field is solved exactly in the electric dipole, rotating wave approximation. Expressions for the energy eigenvalues and eigenvectors are derived, and an exact representation for the time dependent wavefunction of the system is given. These quantities are evaluated analytically for N=1,2 and 3, and the time dependent properties of the system for these values of N are investigated and discussed.