Abstract

We have investigated the resonance fluorescence spectrum from two identical atoms driven by a strong standing wave field. We found interesting modifications of the Mollow spectrum, caused by interferences between the two atoms, and in particular a succession of dark and bright states as one of the atoms is moved to successive nodes of the field. Large enough separation between the atoms leads to the disappearance of these interferences, and the atoms act then as independent radiators, the fluorescence spectrum becoming then independent of the interatomic distance. From the point of view advocated by E. Wolf,¹ one can interpret these modifications as caused by source correlations. For instance, we obtain new sidebands which are altered as the separation between atoms is modified. When these sidebands eventually cross, the fluorescence spectrum displays interesting properties such as “dark” and “bright” states. These investigations lay the foundations for a discussion of the influence of particle statistics on spectral properties of atoms cooled and trapped in optical molasses. The next step in this direction will include the effects of translational motion on these spectra.² This program will eventually lead to a full-fledged field theoretical description of the spectral and translational correlation properties of an ensemble of cooled and trapped atoms.

© 1993 Optical Society of America