Photon Statistics; Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Single Quantum Systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a unified theoretical framework for analyzing photon statistics, nonlinear spectroscopy, and quantum measurements of single quantum systems, enabling direct comparison of their informational content.

Contribution

It introduces a common generating function formalism that unifies multitime correlation functions, nonlinear response functions, and quantum measurement descriptions.

Findings

Derived a general expression for photon counting statistics using Liouville space correlation functions.

Established a formal link between spontaneous emission described by a master equation and photon statistics.

Provided a basis for comparing different quantum measurement techniques.

Abstract

A unified description of multitime correlation functions, nonlinear response functions, and quantum measurements is developed using a common generating function which allows a direct comparison of their information content. A general formal expression for photon counting statistics from single quantum objects is derived in terms of Liouville space correlation functions of the material system by making a single assumption that spontaneous emission is described by a master equation.