Atomic squeezing in three level atoms

The conditions under which squeezing occurs, in a system of atoms and photons, are modelled by describing atom–photon interactions in three atomic levels. The time evolution of the spin population is calculated for different initial conditions. The effect of the use of coherent states, in the photon sector of the initial condition, is discussed. It is found that (i) the use of coherent states does not suffice for the transfer of spin between the atoms and the laser field, (ii) the interactions between the atomic levels and the radiation field must be non-symmetric, and (iii) that the squeezing is washed-out if the number of atoms is increased.