Parameter estimation in atomic spectroscopy using exceptional points

Morag Am-Shallem, Ronnie Kosloff, Nimrod Moiseyev

Published 2015-11-23Version 1

The dynamics of spontaneous emission of an atomic system is studied in the framework of an open quantum system. The resulting quantum master equation for the atomic system is non hermitian. The generator $\mathcal{L}$ can possess non-hermitian degeneracies, i.e. exceptional points ($EP$), for specific values of the external laser driving amplitude and detuning from the atomic lines. We suggest to employ the special properties of these $EP$s for accurate parameter estimation. The method is demonstrated for the atomic spectrum of $S \rightarrow P$ transitions of $~^{85}$Rb and $~^{40}$Ca$~^+$.