Strong electron-photon coupling in a one-dimensional quantum dot chain: Rabi waves and Rabi wave packets

We predict and theoretically investigate the new coherent effect of nonlinear quantum optics—spatial propagation of Rabi oscillations (Rabi waves) in one-dimensional quantum dot (QD) chain. QD chain is modeled by the set of two-level quantum systems with tunnel coupling between neighboring QDs. The space propagation of Rabi waves in the form of traveling waves and wave packets is considered. It is shown, that traveling Rabi waves are quantum states of QD chain dressed by radiation. The dispersion characteristics of traveling Rabi waves are investigated and their dependence on average number of photons in wave is demonstrated. The propagation of Rabi wave packets is accompanied by the transfer of the inversion and quantum correlations along the QD chain and by the transformation of quantum light statistics. The conditions of experimental observability are analyzed. The effect is potentially useful for quantum computing and quantum informatics. ©2010 The American Physical Society