Abstract
The dynamics of the interaction of a single Rydberg atom with a single mode of an electromagnetic field in a superconducting cavity was investigated. Velocity-selected atoms were used and the evolution of the atomic inversion as atom and field exchange energy was observed. The quantum collapse and revival predicted by the Jaynes-Cummings model were demonstrated experimentally for the first time. The evaluation of the dynamic behavior of the atoms allows us to determine the statistics of the few photons in the cavity.
- Received 27 October 1986
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.353
©1987 American Physical Society
