One-Way Steering as a Resource for Asymmetric Quantum Communication in Three-Level Laser Systems
Abstract
Abstract We theoretically investigate the emergence and asymmetry of Gaussian quantum steering and Rényi-2 entanglement in the radiation field of a nondegenerate three-level laser system. The gain medium consists of atoms initially prepared in a coherent superposition of the upper and lower states, interacting with two quantized cavity modes coupled to a common thermal reservoir. Using the steady-state solution of the master equation and the covariance matrix formalism, we compute the Gaussian steerability in both directions and compare it to the Gaussian Rényi-2 entanglement. Our analysis reveals that, under a wide range of parameters—including gain strength, population inversion, and thermal phonon number—the system exhibits generic one-way steering from mode A to mode B , with the reverse direction being inaccessible. This asymmetry is shown to originate from the photon number imbalance between the two modes. We further demonstrate that thermal noise degrades quantum correlations, with steering being more fragile than entanglement. These results provide theoretical support for the implementation of asymmetric quantum information protocols in cavity-based platforms and could be tested with current experimental technologies.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum Information and Cryptography
Quantum optics and atomic interactions
Mechanical and Optical Resonators
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Chinese Physics B
- Publication date
- 4 January 2026