Few-photon transport in low-dimensional systems

Abstract

We analyze the role of quantum interference effects induced by an embedded two-level system on the photon transport properties in waveguiding structures that exhibit cutoffs (band edges) in their dispersion relation. In particular, we demonstrate that these systems invariably exhibit single-particle photon-atom bound states and strong effective nonlinear responses on the few-photon level. Based on this, we find that the properties of these photon-atom bound states may be tuned via the underlying dispersion relation and that their occupation can be controlled via multiparticle scattering processes. This opens an interesting route for controlling photon transport properties in a number of solid-state-based quantum optical systems and the realization of corresponding functional elements and devices.