Role of generalized parity in the symmetry of fluorescence spectrum from two-level systems under periodic frequency modulation

We study the origin of the symmetry of the fluorescence spectrum from the two-level system subjected to a low-frequency periodic modulation and a near-resonant high-frequency monochromatic excitation by using the analytical and numerical methods based on the Floquet theory. We find that the fundamental origin of symmetry of the spectrum can be attributed to the presence of the generalized parity of the Floquet states, which depends on the driving parameters. The absence of the generalized parity can lead to the asymmetry of the spectrum. Based on the generalized parity, the conditions for the symmetry and asymmetry of the spectrum can be derived, which succeeds in predicting symmetry and asymmetry of the spectrum for the harmonic, biharmonic, and multiharmonic modulations. Moreover, we find that the secular approximation widely used in the analytical calculation may lead to artifact symmetry of the spectrum that vanishes when such approximation is avoided. The present study provides a significant perspective on the origin of the symmetry of the spectrum.