Abstract

A model of photodetection using a Bose-Einstein condensate in an atom-chip-based microtrap is analyzed. Atoms absorb photons from the incident light field, receive part of the photon momentum, and leave the trap potential. Upon counting escaped atoms within predetermined time intervals, the photon statistics of the incident light is mapped onto the atom-count statistics. Whereas traditional photodetection theory treats the emission centers of photoelectrons as distinguishable, here the centers of escaping atoms are condensed and thus indistinguishable atoms. From this, an enhancement of the photon-number resolution as compared to the commonly known counting formula is derived for the case of low saturation. © 2008 The American Physical Society.