Observation of Quantum Jumps in a Single Atom

Authors: Jonas Bergquist, Randall G. Hulet, Wayne M. Itano, D. J. Wineland - International Laser Science Conference 1986 cited by 711

One of the experiments made possible by the trapping and cooling of a single atom is to observe the quantum jumps to a metastable state in the atom by monitoring the resonance fluorescence of a strong transition in which at least one of the states is coupled to the metastable state. When the atomic electron moves to the metastable state, the fluorescence from the strongly driven transition disappears. When the electron drops back into the strongly driven transition, the fluorescence abruptly returns. Statistical analysis of these random interruptions to the fluorescence signal implies photon antibunching in the emission of the weak photon.