Coherent Coupling Between a Three-Level Atom and a Structured Reservoir

Abstract

We study the spontaneous emission (SE) spectra of a three-level A-type atom in photonic crystals. The air-band, the dielectric-band and the free-space vacuum reservoirs coupled with the atom are considered. With the consideration of the phase difference between the air-band and the dielectric-band fields, two band reservoirs become coherent and can interfere with each other. This interference effect depends on the embedded position of the atom and the band-gap width and can affect the SE spectrum. The effect of this interference on the SE spectrum is shown.