Skip to content

An atom can be described by a central-field model when calculating its orbitals, a driven two-level model when manipulating one transition, and optical Bloch equations when spontaneous emission matters. Choosing the model means choosing which degrees of freedom and processes are needed for the observable of interest.

This index compares those choices and links to their derivations. Numerical accuracy and physical accuracy are different questions: computing a matrix exponential precisely does not establish that the truncated Hamiltonian describes the experiment.

Helpful background. Atomic physics, molecular quantum mechanics, and light–matter interaction introduce the states and scales used below.

Physical question First model to inspect Do not stop there when
bound electronic structure of a one-electron atom hydrogenic atom fine structure, finite mass, external fields, or core penetration resolve the Coulomb degeneracy
many-electron atom with an approximately spherical core central-field or alkali quantum-defect model correlation, configuration mixing, or relativistic coupling controls the observable
molecular bonding or potential curves Born–Oppenheimer electronic model electronic derivative couplings or near-degenerate surfaces require coupled nuclear channels
one near-resonant transition under a coherent classical field driven two-level atom leakage, multiple Zeeman levels, spontaneous emission, or field quantization matters
driven transition with relaxation and dephasing optical Bloch equations the bath has memory, the drive is quantum, or more than two levels participate
one emitter and one quantized mode quantum Rabi or Jaynes–Cummings model multimode structure, gauge-sensitive truncation, drive, or loss matters
many equivalent emitters and one common mode Dicke or Tavis–Cummings model couplings are inhomogeneous or local decay populates other total-spin sectors
laser threshold and mean output rate-equation laser model phase noise, multimode competition, spatial hole burning, or quantum fluctuations are central
near-resonant radiative force Doppler or magneto-optical force model sub-Doppler polarization gradients, multilevel pumping, recoil quantization, or reabsorption matters
dilute coherent Bose gas Gross–Pitaevskii equation depletion, fragmentation, strong correlations, or thermal kinetics is appreciable
particles in a deep optical lattice Hubbard or Bose–Hubbard model higher bands, long-range interactions, heating, or continuum motion is relevant
short light-pulse inertial sensor light-pulse atom-interferometer model finite pulse duration, wavefronts, rotations, gradients, interactions, or multilevel diffraction matter

Atomic models differ mainly in how they replace or organize the electron– electron interaction and relativistic couplings.

Model Retained structure Decisive approximation Further explanation
hydrogenic atom with perturbations one electron, nuclear Coulomb field, selected correction operators non-Coulomb terms are small relative to the gross spectrum and are treated in a declared hierarchy Hydrogen as Atomic Prototype, Fine Structure, Hyperfine Structure, Zeeman Effect, and Stark Effect
helium variational model two electrons in a Coulomb field a parameterized trial space replaces the exact correlated wavefunction Helium Atom and Variational Helium Notebook
central-field atom independent orbitals in a spherical effective potential nonspherical and residual correlation terms are omitted or added perturbatively Central-Field Approximation
alkali atom with quantum defects one valence electron plus a structured closed-shell core core penetration and polarization are compressed into channel-dependent defects Alkali Atoms
LS-coupled atom total orbital LL and total spin SS are coupled before JJ electrostatic term splittings dominate one-electron spin–orbit splittings LS Coupling
jj-coupled atom each lil_i couples to sis_i before the jij_i are combined one-electron spin–orbit splittings dominate residual electrostatic recoupling jj Coupling

The model signature is

H=p22μ−Ze24πε0r+Hcorr,H = \frac{\mathbf p^2}{2\mu} - \frac{Ze^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0r} + H_{\mathrm{corr}},

where HcorrH_{\mathrm{corr}} is not one universal operator. It may include fine-structure, recoil, finite nuclear size, hyperfine, Lamb-shift, Zeeman, or Stark terms. A trustworthy calculation states which terms are included and whether degenerate perturbation theory is required.

The smallness test is matrix-element based:

∣⟨a∣Hcorr∣b⟩∣∣Ea(0)−Eb(0)∣≪1\frac{ \left| \langle a|H_{\mathrm{corr}}|b\rangle \right| }{ \left| E_a^{(0)}-E_b^{(0)} \right| } \ll1

for states outside the retained degenerate or quasi-degenerate block. A small operator coefficient does not justify nondegenerate perturbation theory when the denominator is also small.

A central-field basis supplies one-electron orbitals. LS and jj coupling then organize angular momenta in different energy-scale limits. They are not three competing exact Hamiltonians. In intermediate coupling, LL, SS, and individual electronic jij_i values are generally not exact. Total JJ and parity remain good quantum numbers for an isolated rotationally invariant atom when the Hamiltonian preserves parity; hyperfine coupling instead conserves total atomic FF. Mixing coefficients describe the remaining approximate labels.

Molecular calculations can fix nuclei while solving the electronic problem, then solve their quantum motion on one or several potential surfaces. Born–Oppenheimer separation does not require classical nuclei: vibrational zero-point motion and tunneling can be included on a single surface.

Model Retained structure Decisive approximation Further explanation
H₂⁺ molecular ion one electron and two nuclei a fixed-nuclei electronic problem is solved before nuclear motion H₂⁺ Ion
H₂ in the Heitler–London approximation two localized one-electron orbitals with antisymmetrized spin-space states ionic configurations and orbital relaxation are restricted in the minimal form Hydrogen Molecule
harmonic molecular vibration quadratic potential in mass-weighted displacements excursions remain near one stable minimum and mode coupling is negligible at leading order Vibrations of Diatomics
Morse oscillator one anharmonic dissociating coordinate a one-dimensional empirical potential represents the selected bond coordinate Vibrations of Diatomics
rigid rotor with centrifugal distortion molecular orientation and a perturbative bond-stretch correction vibrational and electronic states are fixed; rotation-induced deformation is small Rotations of Molecules and Rotational Spectroscopy
polyatomic normal modes small mass-weighted nuclear displacements the Hessian at one equilibrium geometry controls the leading motion Normal Modes of Polyatomics

Near a nondegenerate minimum ReR_e, a diatomic potential has the local form

V(R)=V(Re)+12μωe2(R−Re)2+O ⁣((R−Re)3).V(R) = V(R_e) + \frac12\mu\omega_e^2(R-R_e)^2 + O\!\left((R-R_e)^3\right).

The harmonic oscillator is therefore a local asymptotic model, not a global bond potential. A common Morse convention is

VM(R)=De[1−e−a(R−Re)]2,V_{\mathrm M}(R) = D_e \left[ 1-e^{-a(R-R_e)} \right]^2,

with the zero at the well bottom. It captures a finite dissociation energy and decreasing level spacing, but it is not an ab initio electronic-structure method and does not reproduce every long-range tail.

For a near-rigid diatomic, the leading rotational term and centrifugal distortion are commonly summarized by

EJhc=BvJ(J+1)−Dv[J(J+1)]2+⋯ .\frac{E_J}{hc} = B_vJ(J+1) - D_v \left[ J(J+1) \right]^2 +\cdots.

The distortion expansion fails before arbitrarily large JJ; fitted constants must not be extrapolated past the data or past the onset of strong rovibrational mixing.

Use the Two-Level Atom when one pair of states is spectrally isolated and the applied field can be treated classically. In one rotating-frame convention,

H2L=ℏ2(−Δσz+Ωxσx+Ωyσy).H_{\mathrm{2L}} = \frac{\hbar}{2} \left( -\Delta\sigma_z + \Omega_x\sigma_x + \Omega_y\sigma_y \right).

This closed Hamiltonian predicts unitary Rabi dynamics. It does not by itself predict spontaneous emission, irreversible dephasing, optical pumping into unmodeled states, or photon statistics.

The truncation test is not merely “the drive is near resonance.” Off-resonant couplings to every excluded level rr should satisfy a scale test such as

∣Ωr∣∣Δr∣≪1,\frac{|\Omega_{r}|}{|\Delta_r|} \ll1,

for perturbative elimination. Small virtual populations can still produce important accumulated AC Stark phases or Raman couplings, which must then be retained explicitly. Adding an energy shift does not justify elimination when the level mixing itself is large.

A Λ system retains two lower states ∣1⟩|1\rangle, ∣2⟩|2\rangle and one excited state ∣e⟩|e\rangle. A useful rotating-frame convention is

HΛℏ=−Δp∣e⟩⟨e∣−δ∣2⟩⟨2∣+12(Ωp∣e⟩⟨1∣+Ωc∣e⟩⟨2∣+h.c.),\frac{H_\Lambda}{\hbar} ={} -\Delta_p|e\rangle\langle e| -\delta|2\rangle\langle2| + \frac12 \left( \Omega_p|e\rangle\langle1| + \Omega_c|e\rangle\langle2| + \mathrm{h.c.} \right),

where δ\delta is the two-photon detuning in this convention. The model is a topology, not a complete dynamics: EIT requires probe response and decoherence, while STIRAP requires time-dependent pulses and an adiabaticity test.

Use Electromagnetically Induced Transparency for the susceptibility and dark-resonance problem, and STIRAP for adiabatic population transfer. The same level topology supports different experiments and different approximations.

The Optical Bloch Equations add Markovian decay and dephasing to the driven two-level Hamiltonian. With

D[L]ρ=LρL†−12{L†L,ρ},\mathcal D[L]\rho = L\rho L^\dagger - \frac12 \left\{ L^\dagger L,\rho \right\},

one common convention is

ρ˙=−iℏ[H2L,ρ]+ΓD[σ−]ρ+γϕ2D[σz]ρ.\dot\rho = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[H_{\mathrm{2L}},\rho] + \Gamma\mathcal D[\sigma_-]\rho + \frac{\gamma_\phi}{2} \mathcal D[\sigma_z]\rho.

Here the optical coherence decays at Γ/2+γϕ\Gamma/2+\gamma_\phi. Rate symbols vary across the literature, so this relationship is more informative than the bare symbol γ\gamma.

Optical Bloch dynamics is the right first model for saturation, power broadening, fluorescence rate, and damped Rabi oscillations. It is not a microscopic derivation of the electromagnetic reservoir, and it can fail for structured baths, strong non-Markovian feedback, multilevel optical pumping, or a quantum drive.

Model Retained system Defining choice Further explanation
quantum Rabi model one two-level system and one bosonic mode rotating and counter-rotating terms are retained Rabi Model
Jaynes–Cummings model one two-level system and one bosonic mode the rotating-wave interaction conserves excitation number Jaynes–Cummings Model
Dicke model many equivalent two-level systems and one common mode permutation-symmetric collective coupling is retained Dicke Model
single-mode cavity one normalized electromagnetic oscillator, optionally with ports and loss all other modes are neglected or absorbed into calibrated rates Quantized Electromagnetic Modes, Optical Cavities, and Cavity QED

In a shared convention,

HR=ℏωca†a+ℏωa2σz+ℏg(a+a†)σx,HJC=ℏωca†a+ℏωa2σz+ℏg(aσ++a†σ−).\begin{aligned} H_{\mathrm R} ={}& \hbar\omega_c a^\dagger a + \frac{\hbar\omega_a}{2}\sigma_z + \hbar g(a+a^\dagger)\sigma_x, \\ H_{\mathrm{JC}} ={}& \hbar\omega_c a^\dagger a + \frac{\hbar\omega_a}{2}\sigma_z + \hbar g \left( a\sigma_+ + a^\dagger\sigma_- \right). \end{aligned}

Jaynes–Cummings removes aσ−a\sigma_- and a†σ+a^\dagger\sigma_+. Near resonance, a useful first diagnostic is

gn+1ωa+ωc≪1\frac{g\sqrt{n+1}}{\omega_a+\omega_c}\ll1

over the populated photon-number range. This is not a universal error bound: long evolution times, precision shifts, strong drive, high occupation, and gauge-sensitive few-level truncations require a more specific check.

The distinction from semiclassical Rabi oscillations is categorical. In the semiclassical problem, the drive amplitude is prescribed. In the quantum models, photon number is dynamical, atom and field can entangle, and vacuum fluctuations give a nonzero coupling matrix element.

For NN equivalent emitters, define Jα=12∑j=1NσjαJ_\alpha=\tfrac12\sum_{j=1}^N\sigma_j^\alpha. A common closed Dicke Hamiltonian is

HD=ℏωca†a+ℏωaJz+2ℏgN(a+a†)Jx.H_{\mathrm D} = \hbar\omega_c a^\dagger a + \hbar\omega_aJ_z + \frac{2\hbar g}{\sqrt N} (a+a^\dagger)J_x.

This Hamiltonian preserves J2J^2 for equivalent emitters, but restricting it to J=N/2J=N/2 also requires an initially symmetric state and dynamics that preserve that sector. Identical independent decay channels can preserve permutation invariance of the density operator while populating lower-JJ sectors; permutation invariance alone does not justify one collective-spin multiplet (Shammah et al., 2018).

With the displayed 1/N1/\sqrt N scaling, gg is a collective scale held fixed as NN changes. The single-emitter coefficient is g/Ng/\sqrt N; holding that coefficient fixed instead makes gg grow as N\sqrt N. The equilibrium Dicke-model phase transition is also not synonymous with a transient superradiant pulse. Gauge constraints, diamagnetic terms, drive, loss, finite NN, and multimode structure determine which laboratory interpretation is valid.

The ideal cavity Hamiltonian

Hc=ℏωc(a†a+12)H_c = \hbar\omega_c \left( a^\dagger a+\frac12 \right)

does not specify a laboratory resonator completely. A driven open cavity also needs port conventions, drive amplitude, detuning, and loss, often through a term κD[a]ρ\kappa\mathcal D[a]\rho. The one-mode model should be checked against free spectral range, polarization splitting, transverse-mode spacing, and the bandwidth of the excitation and measurement.

Model State variables Primary use Further explanation
rate-equation laser population inversion and intracavity photon number or intensity threshold, steady output, gain clamping, and relaxation oscillations Rate-Equation Lasers
beam-splitter unitary two input and two output optical modes interference, Fock-state transformations, and lossless mode mixing Beam Splitters
Mach–Zehnder interferometer two beam splitters plus relative propagation phase phase-to-count or phase-to-intensity transduction Interferometers

A minimal class-B-style structure is

N˙=Rp−Nτ−G(N)S,S˙=ΓcG(N)S+βNτ−Sτp.\begin{aligned} \dot N &= R_p - \frac{N}{\tau} - G(N)S, \\ \dot S &= \Gamma_cG(N)S + \beta\frac{N}{\tau} - \frac{S}{\tau_p}. \end{aligned}

NN, SS, the confinement factor Γc\Gamma_c, and the gain convention must be defined before comparing formulas. These equations average over optical phase and often over space. They are not the right endpoint for Schawlow–Townes linewidth, quantum intensity noise, mode locking, spatial hole burning, or coherent transients.

A lossless two-port beam splitter is a U(2)U(2) mode transformation. One common phase convention is

(aoutbout)=(tr−r∗t∗)(ainbin),∣t∣2+∣r∣2=1.\begin{pmatrix} a_{\mathrm{out}}\\ b_{\mathrm{out}} \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} t & r\\ -r^* & t^* \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} a_{\mathrm{in}}\\ b_{\mathrm{in}} \end{pmatrix}, \qquad |t|^2+|r|^2=1.

Different sign and phase conventions describe the same device when used consistently. A Mach–Zehnder model composes two such transformations with a relative phase. Loss, detector POVMs, mode mismatch, and partial distinguishability are separate physical ingredients, not alternative beam- splitter conventions.

Model Leading reduced law Use when Further explanation
Doppler cooling force velocity-dependent radiation-pressure imbalance a near-two-level particle samples counterpropagating red-detuned beams Doppler Cooling
magneto-optical trap damping plus position-dependent restoring force Zeeman shifts and polarized beams create a stable linearized trap Magneto-Optical Traps
optical dipole trap conservative dynamic-polarizability potential plus scattering light is sufficiently far detuned that internal excitation can be eliminated Optical Dipole Traps
Paul-trap secular motion harmonic pseudopotential with micromotion corrections Mathieu parameters lie in a stable region and time-scale separation is adequate Ion Traps
Rydberg blockade model driven two-level sites with strong state-dependent pair shifts an interaction shift resolves or suppresses multiple Rydberg excitation Rydberg Blockade
light-pulse atom interferometer internal-state-dependent momentum kicks and free propagation short coherent pulses act as matter-wave beam splitters and mirrors Atom Interferometry

For two counterpropagating beams, the one-dimensional Doppler force has the structure

F(v)=ℏk[R+(v)−R−(v)]≃−αvF(v) = \hbar k \left[ R_+(v)-R_-(v) \right] \simeq -\alpha v

near v=0v=0. A one-dimensional magneto-optical trap adds a linear restoring term,

F(x,v)≃−κxx−αv.F(x,v) \simeq -\kappa_xx-\alpha v.

These are local expansions. Capture velocity, beam profile, optical pumping, magnetic-field geometry, diffusion, and gravity can all invalidate a global harmonic interpretation.

For a far-detuned field, an optical dipole potential can be written in terms of the dynamic polarizability as

U(r)=−14Re⁡α(ω)∣E0(r)∣2U(\mathbf r) = -\frac14 \operatorname{Re}\alpha(\omega) |\mathbf E_0(\mathbf r)|^2

for an isotropic scalar polarizability and a complex-amplitude convention E(t)=Re⁡[E0e−iωt]\mathbf E(t)=\operatorname{Re}[\mathbf E_0e^{-i\omega t}]. The associated photon-scattering rate and any vector or tensor light shifts must be checked separately; “conservative” is an approximation, not a property of all optical traps.

Each ideal quadrupole coordinate reduces to a Mathieu equation,

d2udτ2+[au−2qucos⁡(2τ)]u=0.\frac{d^2u}{d\tau^2} + \left[ a_u-2q_u\cos(2\tau) \right]u =0.

The secular pseudopotential averages over radio-frequency micromotion. It should not be used to erase excess micromotion, nonlinear fields, parametric resonances, or motion outside the stability region.

A common frozen-position model is

Hℏ=Ω2∑iσix−Δ∑ini+∑i<jVijℏninj,\frac{H}{\hbar} ={} \frac{\Omega}{2}\sum_i\sigma_i^x - \Delta\sum_i n_i + \sum_{i<j} \frac{V_{ij}}{\hbar} n_in_j,

where ni=∣ri⟩⟨ri∣n_i=|r_i\rangle\langle r_i|. “Perfect blockade” means that relevant interaction shifts are large compared with the excitation linewidth and coupling scale; finite blockade, anisotropy, motion, decay, and unwanted pair resonances require the full calibrated interaction.

For an ideal three-pulse Mach–Zehnder sequence in a uniform acceleration, the leading inertial phase is

Φa=keff⋅a T2\Phi_a = \mathbf k_{\mathrm{eff}}\cdot\mathbf a\,T^2

up to the chosen laser-phase and sign conventions. This compact model assumes short pulses, a specified momentum-transfer order, controlled trajectories, and a uniform acceleration. Precision sensors must add finite-pulse response, laser phase noise, wavefront curvature, gravity gradients, rotations, velocity distributions, and detection systematics.

Projecting the continuum motion onto one localized orbital per site gives a Hubbard description when higher bands and omitted interaction matrix elements are negligible. For spin-1/21/2 fermions,

H=−t∑⟨i,j⟩,σ(ciσ†cjσ+h.c.)+U∑ini↑ni↓.H ={} -t \sum_{\langle i,j\rangle,\sigma} \left( c_{i\sigma}^\dagger c_{j\sigma} + \mathrm{h.c.} \right) + U\sum_i n_{i\uparrow}n_{i\downarrow}.

Use Optical Lattices for band formation, Wannier functions, recoil scales, loading, and calibration. Use the Hubbard Model for the canonical fermionic model, and the Bose–Hubbard Model for lattice bosons.

A single-band reduction requires the retained energy scales, including tt, UU, kBTk_{\mathrm B}T, drive bandwidth, and interaction-induced band mixing, to remain controlled relative to relevant interband gaps. Long-range interactions, density-assisted hopping, and heating are physical corrections, not numerical noise.

For a dilute, weakly depleted three-dimensional Bose condensate, the condensate field Ψ\Psi obeys

iℏ∂tΨ=[−ℏ2∇22m+Vext+g∣Ψ∣2]Ψ,∫d3r ∣Ψ∣2=N0.i\hbar\partial_t\Psi = \left[ -\frac{\hbar^2\nabla^2}{2m} + V_{\mathrm{ext}} + g|\Psi|^2 \right]\Psi, \qquad \int d^3r\,|\Psi|^2=N_0.

Here N0N_0 is the condensate occupation, approximated by total NN when depletion and the thermal fraction are neglected. In three dimensions at leading low energy,

g=4πℏ2asm.g = \frac{4\pi\hbar^2a_s}{m}.

The canonical derivation and validity analysis live in the Gross–Pitaevskii Equation. The Bose–Einstein Condensates Overview connects it to AMO preparation and diagnostics.

The local dilute-gas parameter

n∣as∣3≪1n|a_s|^3\ll1

is necessary but not by itself sufficient. The condensate fraction, thermal component, dimensional reduction, loss, fragmentation, and dynamical instabilities must also match the chosen equation.

These models are not selected by whether the particles are “cold.” Choose a lattice model when discrete Wannier orbitals and site occupations are the retained variables. Choose Gross–Pitaevskii theory when a coherent continuum condensate field is the retained variable and correlations beyond mean field are small. A condensate in a shallow lattice can require a Gross–Pitaevskii equation with a periodic potential; a deep lattice near a number-correlated regime can require Bose–Hubbard dynamics.

Exercise 1: Classical drive, Rabi, or Jaynes–Cummings?

Section titled “Exercise 1: Classical drive, Rabi, or Jaynes–Cummings?”

An atom is driven by a laser whose depletion and photon-number fluctuations are negligible. A calculation is needed for coherent population transfer over ten Rabi periods. Which model should be the baseline?

Solution

Use the driven two-level Hamiltonian if leakage to other atomic levels and decoherence are negligible over the ten-period interval. The quantum Rabi and Jaynes–Cummings models make the field mode dynamical, which is unnecessary when the laser is accurately prescribed as a classical field. Add optical Bloch terms if measured decay or dephasing is relevant.

Exercise 2: Testing the rotating-wave approximation

Section titled “Exercise 2: Testing the rotating-wave approximation”

A cavity experiment has ωa≃ωc\omega_a\simeq\omega_c, coupling gg, and appreciable population through photon number nmax⁡n_{\max}. State a first diagnostic for choosing Jaynes–Cummings over the quantum Rabi model.

Solution

Check that

gnmax⁡+1ωa+ωc≪1.\frac{g\sqrt{n_{\max}+1}}{\omega_a+\omega_c}\ll1.

Then compare the observable of interest against the parent Rabi model over the actual evolution time. Precision shifts or long-time phases can reveal small counter-rotating corrections even when short-time populations look accurate.

Exercise 3: Continuum condensate or lattice occupations?

Section titled “Exercise 3: Continuum condensate or lattice occupations?”

Bosons occupy a deep optical lattice near unit filling, and number fluctuations are strongly suppressed. Should a single coherent Gross–Pitaevskii field be the default?

Solution

No. The retained observables are site occupations and their correlations, and strong number squeezing signals physics beyond a single coherent mean field. A Bose–Hubbard model is the natural baseline, after validating the single-band projection. Gross–Pitaevskii theory may still describe a shallow- lattice superfluid regime, but it is not selected merely because the particles are bosons.

Exercise 4: Secular motion and micromotion

Section titled “Exercise 4: Secular motion and micromotion”

An ion’s slow oscillation frequency is predicted accurately by a Paul-trap pseudopotential, but a clock shift depends on radio-frequency kinetic energy. Is the secular model sufficient?

Solution

Not by itself. The pseudopotential can predict the slow secular frequency while averaging away intrinsic and excess micromotion. A clock-shift calculation sensitive to radio-frequency kinetic energy must restore micromotion using the Mathieu solution or an equivalently validated time-dependent model.