Two-time intensity correlation in a driven three-level system

Abstract

We examine the various two-time fluorescence intensity correlations emitted by a driven three-level atom in a cascade configuration. For a strongly driven atom, the two intensity autocorrelation functions, one from the upper transition, the other from the lower transition, exhibit different behaviors. In addition to the an oscillation similar to the two-level intensity correlation we find an additional oscillation for the upper transition only. This is shown to be due to the spontaneous decay between the lower transition levels. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.