Atomic absorption and emission in non-product states

The properties of non-product states, both (anti)symmetrized and entangled, have been extensively studied in the literature. In this paper, by extending previous partial results, we introduce a general framework to describe atomic absorption and emission in these states. Our approach shows the existence of some fundamental differences between entanglement and (anti)symmetrization and between absorption and emission. For instance, modifications of the emission properties with respect to that of uncorrelated systems occur for any (anti)symmetrized state but only for some very specific entangled states. Graphical abstract