We study multiphoton scattering inside a one-dimensional waveguide caused by a number of resonant two-level atoms located in a region small compared to the photon wavelength. Applying powerful methods of the theory of integrable quantum systems, we analyze photon correlations caused by scattering. In particular, for the important case of two-photon scattering, we describe explicitly the dependence of the scattering parameters on the number of two-level atoms. Also, we outline the method of describing scattering of an arbitrary number of photons and present explicit expressions for the scattering of three photons in the effective chiral one-dimensional model. The photon wave function is represented as a sum of terms of a different degree of “entanglement.” We discuss qualitative distinctions in photon correlations for the single two-level atom case and the case of several atoms.

• Received 13 June 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.78.052713