Complementarity and Young's interference fringes from two atoms
Quantum Physics
2009-10-30 v1
Abstract
The interference pattern of the resonance fluorescence from a J=1/2 to J=1/2 transition of two identical atoms confined in a three-dimensional harmonic potential is calculated. Thermal motion of the atoms is included. Agreement is obtained with experiments [Eichmann et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 2359 (1993)]. Contrary to some theoretical predictions, but in agreement with the present calculations, a fringe visibility greater than 50% can be observed with polarization-selective detection. The dependence of the fringe visibility on polarization has a simple interpretation, based on whether or not it is possible in principle to determine which atom emitted the photon.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9711041,
title = {Complementarity and Young's interference fringes from two atoms},
author = {W. M. Itano and J. C. Bergquist and J. J. Bollinger and D. J. Wineland and U. Eichmann and M. G. Raizen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9711041},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
12 pages, including 7 EPS figures, RevTex. Submitted to Phys. Rev. A