Quantum-beat phenomena described by quantum electrodynamics and neoclassical theory

1 April 1975

journal article
research article
Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review A

Vol. 11 (4) , 1380-1388
https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.11.1380

Abstract

We propose and analyze the use of quantum-beat phenomena to test neoclassical radiation theory (NCT) and quantum electrodynamics (QED). For a beam-foil type of experiment with atoms having one upper level and two closely spaced lower levels, all coherently excited, NCT predicts the presence of quantum beats in the emitted radiation; beats are not expected in QED. QED predicts beats when many atoms are present, in agreement with recent photon-echo experiments. An experiment to test NCT and QED is suggested.

Keywords

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