The Rabi cycle describes the oscillatory behavior of a quantum two-level system (commonly represented by a two-state quantum system) subjected to an external oscillating electromagnetic field. This concept is fundamental in quantum mechanics, particularly in quantum optics and atomic physics.
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A resonant drive can transfer a quantum state from one energy eigenstate to another and then bring its population back. This is unitary time evolution: the drive exchanges energy with the selected two-level system, while total probability stays one. One complete Rabi cycle has population period ; halfway through, a Rabi pi pulse transfers the whole population in the ideal model. This makes Rabi oscillations useful for calibrating resonant quantum control, preparing quantum superpositions and supplying the pulses of Ramsey interferometry.
