Photoelectron waiting times and atomic state reduction in resonance fluorescence

Abstract

Photoelectron counting sequences for single-atom resonance fluorescence are studied. The distribution of waiting times between photoelectric counts is calculated, and its dependence on driving-field intensity and detection efficiency is discussed. The photoelectron-counting distribution is derived from the waiting-time distribution. The relationship between photoelectron counting sequences and photon emission sequences is discussed and used to obtain an expression for the reduced state of the atom during the waiting times between photoelectric counts. The roles of irreversibility and the observer in atomic state reduction are delineated.