The primary objective of this U.S.-Poland research project between Dr. Roy Glauber of Harvard University and Dr. Maciej Lewenstein of the Polish Academy of Science's Institute for Theoretical Physics is to examine problems of photodetection within a dielectric medium and on radiative interactions of single atoms or ions . The researchers will continue their efforts to develop the theoretical framework for treatment of optically pumped and dielectric media and use it to demonstrate novel quantum mechanical effects in photon counting distributions and related correlation functions. Results may yield a new method of photon detection that can be used to investigate several quantum phenomena, such as quantum mechanical tunneling, effects of cavity resonances, influence of spatial wave packets, and the radiative interactions of ion pairs. This project in theoretical physics fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
