Third-order exceptional point in an ion–cavity system

Abstract

We investigate a scheme for observing the third-order exceptional point (EP3) in an ion–cavity setting. In the lambda-type level configuration, the ion is driven by a pump field, and the resonator is probed with another weak laser field. We exploit the highly asymmetric branching ratio of an ion's excited state to satisfy the weak-excitation limit, which allows us to construct the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian (HnH). Via fitting the cavity-transmission spectrum, the eigenvalues of HnH are obtained. The EP3 appears at a point where the Rabi frequency of the pump laser and the atom-cavity coupling constant balance the loss rates of the system. Feasible experimental parameters are provided.