An analysis of a two-atom double-slit experiment based on environment-induced measurements

Abstract

To investigate the effect of a classical environment on a quantum mechanical system we consider two two-level atoms in a free radiation field in the presence of a screen. By assuming that the screen causes continuous ideal measurements on the free radiation field we derive a quantum jump description for the state of the atoms. Our results are consistent with the master equations for dipole interacting atoms, but give more insight in the time evolution of a single system. To illustrate this we derive a necessary and sufficient criterion for interference in a two-atom double-slit experiment and analyse bunching in the statistics of photons emitted in a certain direction.

10 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. A