Atomic waiting-times and correlation functions

Abstract

The quantum statistical properties of photon fields can be characterized by the counting probability known as the Kelley-Kleiner- or Glauber-formula. For the population statistics of an atomic beam, interacting with a quantized cavity field, an equivalent analytical approach does not exist yet. Here we present a concept for evaluating the atomic counting probability, the waiting-time distribution and the “two-atom correlation” function for a Poissonian atomic beam exiting the micro-maser cavity. We show by an analytical treatment how the waiting-time distribution converges into the atom correlation function for vanishing detection efficiency.