Quantum Beats - V-type and -type Atoms

V-type and -type Atoms

There is a figure in Quantum Optics that describes V-type and -type atoms clearly.

Simply, V-type atoms have 3 states:, and . The energy levels of and are higher than that of . When electrons in states and : subsequently decay to state, two kinds of emission are radiated.

In -type atoms, there are also 3 states:, and :. However, in this type, is at the highest energy level, while and : are at lower levels. When two electrons in state decay to states and :, respectively, two kinds of emission are also radiated.

The derivation below follows the reference Quantum Optics