The dynamics of an ensemble of two-level atoms injected into
a single-mode cavity is studied in the exact atom-field
interaction situation, in which the counter-rotating terms
describing the so-called virtual photon processes neglected in the
rotating-wave approximation, are considered. The cavity mode is
driven by the injected classical field, and the atom is prepared
in a coherent superposition of the two levels. We first derive the
generalized Lorenz–Haken equation by using the technique of
quantum Langevin equation, and then numerically study the dynamics
of this equation. We find that the virtual photon processes have
strong effects on the dynamics, which can cause the trajectory in
phase space of strange attractor spiral around four focus points,
and the trajectory is modulated by virtual photon processes. The
chaos region in parameter space is now enlarged. It should be
stressed that the strange attractor can exist in optical
bistability, and whether the atomic coherences and classical field can
inhibit chaos depends on the laser frequency.