TEMPORAL BELL-TYPE INEQUALITIES FOR 2-LEVEL RYDBERG ATOMS COUPLED TO A HIGH-Q RESONATOR

Following the strategy of showing specific quantum effects by means of the violation of a classical inequality, a pair of Bell-type inequali ties is derived on the basis of certain additional assumptions, whose plausibility is discussed in detail. Such inequalities are violated by the quantum mechanical predictions for the interaction of a two-level Rydberg atom with a single mode sustained by a high-Q resonator. The experimental conditions required in order to show the existence of for bidden values, according to a hidden variables formalism, in a real ex periment are analyzed for various initial field statistics. In particu lar, the revival dynamics expected for the interaction with a coherent field leads to classically forbidden values, which would indicate a p urely quantum effect.