Abstract
Using a perturbation method, constructed in terms of SU(2)-group representations, we investigate the time evolution of the statistics of photons spontaneously emitted by a system of N identical two-level atoms immersed in a single-mode ideal cavity with s atoms initially excited. The phenomenon of collective collapses and revivals is discussed and the collapse and revival times, which are different for odd and even s, are determined. It is shown for s extremely small compared to N that at appropriately chosen time instants the model generates the s-photon-number state (Fock state).