Optical detection of trapped-atom statistics

Abstract

We propose a strategy to eliminate coherent Raman scattering from a two-component quantum gas. This occurs when the two Raman coupling laser fields are far detuned from intermediate states and when an equal number of atoms are initially maintained in the two ground states, a situation reminiscent of the dark state in stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. The total scattered light then becomes completely incoherent and depends on second order atom number correlation functions. We study this Hanbury-Brown--Twiss type interferometry and present atomic bunching/antibunching effects readily observable from the angular distribution of the total scattered light.