Entanglement of unstable atoms: modifications of the emission properties

Abstract

We analyse the influence of entanglement on the emission properties of atoms. To this end, we firstly propose a scheme for the preparation of a pair of entangled helium atoms, one in the ortho- and the other in the para-spin configuration. We discuss a realistic scenario for this process, based on the double ionization of He by intense laser fields. These states are used to analyse disentanglement and the role of entanglement in the spontaneous emission from the pair. In particular, we show that the decaying rate of an entangled atom is different from that in a product state, modifying the temporal emission distribution and lifetime of the atoms.