Spontaneous emission from a Λ-type atom in anisotropic photonic crystal

Abstract

The spontaneous emission properties of a Λ_type atom embedded in anisotropic photonic crystals are investigated. We find that the dynamical properties of the atom and the propagating characteristics of the radiation field are obviously influenced by the relative position of the upper level from the forbidden gap and the space between the two lower levels. With the help of numerical calculation and theoretical analysis, we plot the evolution of the total radiation field and its components with the time. Furthermore, we also study the influence of photonic crystals on radiative properties of the atom by means of spontaneous emission spectrum.