In this chapter we study with the tools developed in Chapter 3 the basic models that are the foundations of light–matter interaction. We start with Rabi dynamics, then consider the optical Bloch equations that add phenomenologically the lifetime of the populations. As decay and pumping are often important, we cover the Lindblad form, a correct, simple and powerful way to describe various dissipation mechanisms. Then we go to a full quantum picture, quantizing also the optical field. We first investigate the simpler coupling of bosons and then culminate with the Jaynes–Cummings model and its solution to the quantum interaction of a two-level system with a cavity mode. Finally, we investigate a broader family of models where the material excitation operators differ from the ideal limits of a Bose and a Fermi field.
First law of quantum thermodynamics in a driven open two-level system
