Collective Quantum Jumps in Pairs of Atoms with Two or Three States

We have studied cooperative effects on quantum jumps in two-atom systems. These atoms have either two or three states and are driven by a field of arbitrary intensity and bandwidth. We find that, in two two-state atoms at a small separation distance, quantum jumps appear, while the jump rates in two three-state atoms are modified by the collective interactions. Explicit expressions for jump rates are given in various explicit cases.