Two-photon excitation of a three-level atom in a ladder configuration $\left(\overrightarrow{1}\overrightarrow{2}3\right)$ by simultaneous illumination with fields in squeezed vacuum and coherent states results in quantum interference for the excitation process. The particular configuration considered here is one for which the signal and idler output fields of a subthreshold nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator are in resonance with the two-stepwise dipole atomic transitions $(\overrightarrow{1}2,\overrightarrow{2}3),$ while a “reference oscillator” field is in two-photon resonance with the quadrupole transition $\left(\overrightarrow{1}3\right).$ In an extension of the work of Ficek and Drummond [Phys. Rev. A 43, 6247 (1991)], a theoretical formulation based on the full quantum master equation for the problem is presented. The combined effects of quantum interference and the nonclassical character of the squeezed state are investigated, and offer the potential for a new detection strategy for quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field with ultrahigh frequencies (10’s–100’s THz). Based on the theory developed, we analyze quantum interference in excitation in several special cases relevant to experimental realizations, including the effects of a small focusing angle of the squeezing onto the atoms, and unusual population inversions. Special emphasis is given to identifying intrinsically quantum optical field effects versus classical field effects. Procedures that could distinguish between the two (i.e., classical and nonclassical) are suggested.

• Received 30 December 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.59.676