Analysis of a two-atom double-slit experiment based on environment-inducedmeasurements - art. no. 023806

To investigate the effect of the environment on a quantum-mechanical system we consider two two-level atoms in a free radiation field in the presence of a screen. By assuming that the screen causes continuous ideal measuremen ts on the free radiation field we derive a quantum jump description for the state of the atoms. Our results are consistent with the master equation fo r dipole interacting atoms, but give more insight in the time evolution of a single system. To illustrate this we derive a necessary and sufficient cr iterion for interference in a two-atom double-slit experiment and analyze b unching in the statistics of photons emitted in a certain direction.