Dynamics of a three-level V-type atom driven by a cavity photon and microwave field

We discuss the dynamics of a three-level V-type atom driven simultaneously by a cavity photon and microwave field by examining the atomic population evolution. Owing to the coupling effect of the cavity photon, periodical oscillation of the population between the two upper states and the ground state takes place, which is the well-known vacuum Rabi oscillation. Meanwhile, the population exchange between the upmost level and the middle level can occur due to the driving action of the external microwave field. The general dynamic behavior is the superposition of a fast and a slow periodical oscillation under the cooperative and competitive effect of the cavity photon and the microwave field. Numerical results demonstrate that the time evolution of the population is strongly dependent on the atom–cavity coupling coefficient g and Rabi frequency Ω _e that reflects the intensity of the external microwave field. By modulating the two parameters g and Ω _e, a large number of population transfer behaviors can be achieved. (paper)