SUPERSTRUCTURES, FRACTIONAL REVIVALS, AND OPTICAL SCHRODINGER-CAT STATES IN THE JAYNES-CUMMINGS MODEL

It is shown that if the initial photon distribution is narrow (sub-Poi ssonian), long-time behavior of the atomic inversion is dominated by v ery spectacular and almost-periodical superstructures. These superstru ctures generalize phenomena described previously (fractional revivals) . They result from beating of not-nearest-neighbor eigenstates of the system, and we show which beats lead to particular types of revivals. In addition, the cavity field develops macroscopically distinguishable states (optical Schrodinger-cat states). These states emerge when the fractional revivals with a frequency of 2/t(R), 3/t(R), and 4/t(R), w here t(R) is the single-revival period, appear for the second, fourth, sixth, etc., time in the superstructure pattern.