Quantum phase properties of the field in a two-photon micromaser

In this paper, we study the quantum phase properties of the field in a two-photon micromaser, including the effects of the finite detuning of the intermediate level. For initial coherent state of the cavity field and atoms initially in their excited state multipeak phase structure appears which eventually leads to the randomization of the cavity field phase. However, the approach towards the randomization depends upon the detuning. If the atoms are injected in a coherent superposition of their upper and lower atomic states then the phase distribution evolves into two-peak structure. For initial thermal state and atoms in polarized state, cavity field acquires some phase. We also consider the effect of finite Q of the cavity, random injection of the atoms and fluctuations in the interaction time. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.