On the 2-mode and $k$-photon quantum Rabi models

Abstract

By mapping the Hamiltonians of the two-mode and 2-photon Rabi models to differential operators in suitable Hilbert spaces of entire functions, we prove that the two models possess entire and normalizable wavefunctions in the Bargmann-Hilbert spaces only if the frequency $\omega$ and coupling strength $g$ satisfy certain constraints. This is in sharp contrast to the quantum Rabi model for which entire wavefunctions always exist. For model parameters fulfilling the aforesaid constraints we determine transcendental equations whose roots give the regular energy eigenvalues of the models. Furthermore, we show that for $k\geq 3$ the $k$-photon Rabi model does not possess wavefunctions which are elements of the Bargmann-Hilbert space for all non-trivial model parameters. This implies that the $k\geq 3$ case is not diagonalizable, unlike its RWA cousin, the $k$-photon Jaynes-Cummings model which can be completely diagonalized for all $k$.