We consider the effect of dipole-dipole interaction on the quantum jumps in a system of two three-level atoms in a ssV configuration interacting with coherent fields. We show that the intensity-intensity correlation for the strong transition shows additional fluctuations for some interatomic separations between the atoms signifying three levels of fluorescence. It is argued that the intermediate level of fluorescence arises from the coupling between the symmetric and antisymmetric states caused by the dipole-dipole interaction.

• Received 15 May 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.40.3434