An analytical description of the atomic information entropy in a multi-level system

We construct a complete representation of the atomic information entropy of an arbitrary multi-level system. Our approach is applicable to all scenarios in which the quantum state shared by a single particle and fields is known. As illustrations we apply our findings to a single four-level atom strongly coupled to a cavity field and driven by a coherent laser field. In this framework, we discuss connections with entanglement frustration and entropic forms. We conclude by showing how the atomic information entropy can be extended to examine entanglement in multi-level atomic systems. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.