ATOMIC WAITING-TIMES AND CORRELATION-FUNCTIONS

The quantum statistical properties of photon fields can be characteriz ed by the counting probability known as the Kelley-Kleiner- or Glauber -formula. For the population statistics of an atomic beam, interacting with a quantized cavity field, an equivalent analytical approach does not exist yet. Here we present a concept for evaluating the atomic co unting probability, the waiting-time distribution and the ''two-atom c orrelation'' function for a Poissonian atomic beam exiting the micro-m aser cavity. We show by an analytical treatment how the waiting-time d istribution converges into the atom correlation function for vanishing detection efficiency.