Abstract

The radiative properties of an atom coupled to squeezed vacuum can differ significantly from their free-space values. Predictions of linewidth narrowing have been made.^1,2 Similar predictions have been made for an atom in an optical cavity, where the cavity enhancement of the linewidth can be suppressed.³ In this paper we present results for the second-order intensity correlation function g⁽²⁾ (t) for the fluorescent light emitted from an atom interacting with squeezed vacuum. Two cases are considered: an atom in free space and an atom in a cavity of moderate Q. Comparisons with coherent and thermal fields are made. Because we are dealing with a single atom, g⁽²⁾ (0) = 0, but the correlation function rises quickly to a value above 1. Rabi oscillations in g⁽²⁾ (t) for strong fields are washed out by the interaction with the squeezed light. For strong driving fields, the amplitude of the oscillations is phase dependent.

© 1993 Optical Society of America