Quantum stochastic resonance in electron shelving - art. no. 052111

Stochastic resonance shows that under some circumstances noise can enhance the response of a system to a periodic force. While this effect has been ex tensively investigated theoretically and demonstrated experimentally in cla ssical systems, there is complete lack of experimental evidence within the purely quantum-mechanical domain. Here we demonstrate that stochastic reson ance can be exhibited in a single ion and would be experimentally observabl e using well mastered experimental techniques. We discuss the use of this s cheme for the detection of the frequency difference of two lasers to demons trate that stochastic resonance may have applications in precision measurem ents at the quantum limit.