Photon-Burst Correlation Spectroscopy

Using a single-clipped digital correlator, the burst of photons resulting from laser induced resonance fluorescence of a single atom as it passes through a laser beam can be recorded and its transit-time measured. By averaging many fluorescent atoms, the transport characteristics of these atoms in a gaseous system, such as diffusion, flow velocity, and chemical reaction rates can be conveniently determined by photon-burst correlation spectroscopy.