Superbunching in cathodoluminescence: a master equation approach

Abstract

We propose a theoretical model of a master equation for cathodoluminescence (CL). The master equation describes simultaneous excitation of multiple emitters by an incoming electron and radiative decay of individual emitters. We investigate the normalized second-order correlation function, $g^{(2)}(\tau )$, of this model. We derive the exact formula for the zero-time delay correlation, $g^{(2)}(0)$, and show that the model successfully describes giant bunching (superbunching) in the CL. We also derive an approximate form of $g^{(2)}(\tau )$, which is valid for small excitation rate. Furthermore, we discuss the state of the radiation field of the CL. We reveal that the superbunching results from a mixture of an excited photon state and the vacuum state and that this type of state is realized in the CL.

11+12 pages, 3+6 figures

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• Spatially resolved quantum nano-optics of single photons using an electron microscope
• Cathodoluminescence excitation spectroscopy: nanoscale imaging of excitation pathways
• Electron-induced state conversion in diamond NV centers measured with pump-probe cathodoluminescence spectroscopy
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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Ultrafast phonon-mediated dephasing of color centers in hexagonal boron nitride probed by electron beams
• Sub-to-super-Poissonian photon statistics in cathodoluminescence of color center ensembles in isolated diamond crystals
• Electrons herald non-classical light
• Unveiling the nature of cathodoluminescence from photon statistics