Resonance Fluorescence — Two-Level Atom

Mollow triplet spectrum from a driven two-level system

Drive Parameters





Steady State

Excited state pop. ρ₂₂
Coherence |ρ₁₂|
Generalized Rabi Ω̃
Sideband freq ±Ω̃

Mollow Triplet

S(ω) ∝ δ(ω-ω_L)
+ Lorentzians at ω_L ± Ω̃
where Ω̃ = √(Ω² + Δ²)

Resonance fluorescence of a strongly driven two-level atom produces the Mollow triplet (1969): a central peak at the laser frequency ω_L and two sidebands at ω_L ± Ω̃. The sidebands are dressed-state transitions. At Δ=0, all three peaks have equal widths (γ/2, γ/2, γ).

Physics

The Bloch equations describe the density matrix of a two-level atom. Strong driving (Ω ≫ γ) dresses the atom–field states, creating Autler-Townes splitting. The coherent (elastic) peak vanishes above saturation; incoherent emission dominates. The spectrum is a direct probe of quantum fluctuations.