Superbunching in cathodoluminescence: a master equation approach

Abstract

We propose a theoretical model of a master equation for cathodoluminescence (CL). The master equation describes simultaneous excitation of multiple emitters by an incoming electron and radiative decay of individual emitters. We investigate the normalized second-order correlation function, $g^{(2)}(\tau)$, of this model. We derive the exact formula for the zero-time delay correlation, $g^{(2)}(0)$, and show that the model successfully describes giant bunching (superbunching) in the CL. We also derive an approximate form of $g^{(2)}(\tau)$, which is valid for small excitation rate. Furthermore, we discuss the state of the radiation field of the CL. We reveal that the superbunching results from a mixture of an excited photon state and the vacuum state and that this type of state is realized in the CL.