Secular vs. Non-secular Redfield Dynamics and Fano Coherences in Incoherent Excitation: An Experimental Proposal
arXiv:1711.10074 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.97.013421
Abstract
Two different Master Equation approaches have been formally derived to address the dynamics of open quantum systems interacting with a thermal environment (such as sunlight). They have led to two different physical results: non-secular equations that show noise-induced (Fano) coherences and secular equations that do not. An experimental test for the appearance of non-secular terms is proposed using Ca atoms in magnetic fields excited by broadband incoherent radiation. Significantly different patterns of fluorescence are predicted, allowing for a clear test for the validity of the secular and non-secular approach and for the observation of Fano coherences.