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Optics Letters

Sub-Poissonian photon statistics in resonance fluorescence

L. Mandeļ

Published Jul 1, 1979• 1,148 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Expressions are derived for the probability p(n) that n photons are emitted in a given time in the steady state by a two-level atom, when it is placed in a resonant, coherent, exciting field. The distribution p(n) is shown to be narrower than Poissonian. The ratio [<(Deltan)(2)> - <n>]<n> is negative and has an absolute maximum value of 3/4. The possibility of observing the sub-Poissonian statistics is discussed briefly.

DOI
10.1364/ol.4.000205

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Expressions are derived for the probability p(n) that n photons are emitted in a given time in the steady state by a two-level atom, when it is placed in a resonant, coherent, exciting field. The distribution p(n) is shown to be narrower than Poissonian. The ratio [<(Deltan)(2)> - <n>]<n> is negative and has an absolute maximum value of 3/4. The possibility of observing the sub-Poissonian statistics is discussed briefly.
Statistics of fluorescence photons emitted by a single two-level atom interacting with a continuous wave laser field are analyzed. The photon-counting distribution is calculated for the so-called intermediate fluorescence photons, i.e., those counted during the time interval between instants at which photons are emitted. The result is a sub-Poissonian (narrower than Poisson) distribution, which agrees with experimental observations. This intermediate-photon distribution is used to calculate the average number of fluorescence photons, the second factorial moment of the photon-counting distribution, and Mandel’s Q parameter commonly used to evaluate the deviation of photon statistics from the Poisson distribution. The theoretical expressions obtained for moments of the intermediate-photon distribution are different from well-known Mandel’s formulas.
We have discussed the photon statistics of the spectral components of N-atom time-dependent resonance fluorescence. It is shown that in contrast to the stationary limit, sub-Poissonian photon statistics in the sidebands occur for any number N of atoms including the case N\ensuremath{\gg}1. Reduction in Mandel's parameters Q+1{\mathit{Q}}_{+1}Q+1​ is found with increasing numbers of atoms. The typical time for the presence of sub-Poissonian statistics is proportional to 1/N.
Exact closed-form expressions for the probability p(n)p(n)p(n) that nnn photons are spontaneously emitted in a given time by a two-level atom in a coherent exciting field are derived using the theory of atomic motion in a traveling wave.
According to the exact solution of a two-level atomic system interacting with a single-mode field in a cavity and including a pumping mechanism, sub-Poissonian photon statistics can be generated either by regular pumping or by resonance absorption of the lower level. When the atomic lifetime is much smaller than the interaction time (${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{a}\mathit{b}}$\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\gg}1), which corresponds to a usual laser system, the sub-Poissonian photon distribution can be obtained only by regular pumping. On the other hand, if the atomic lifetime is comparable with the interaction time (${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{a}\mathit{b}}$\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\le}1), the sub-Poissonian photon distribution can be generated by both mechanisms.