  A theory of matter wave interference is developed in which resonant optical
fields interact with two-level atoms. When recoil effects are included, spatial
modulation of the atomic density can occur for times that are greater than or
comparable with the inverse recoil frequency. In this regime, the atoms exhibit
matter-wave interference. Two specific atom field geometries are considered. In
the first, atoms characterized by a homogeneous velocity distribution are
subjected to a single radiation pulse. The pulse excites the atoms which then
decay back to the lower state. The spatial modulation of the total atomic
density is calculated as a function of $t$, where $t$ is the time following the
pulse. In contrast to the normal Talbot effect, the spatially modulated density
is not a periodic function of $ t,$ owing to spontaneous emission; however,
after a sufficiently long time, the contribution from spontaneous processes no
longer plays a role and the Talbot periodicity is restored. In the second
atom-field geometry, there are two pulses separated by an interval $T$. The
atomic velocity distribution in this case is assumed to be inhomogeneously
broadened. In contrast to the normal Talbot-Lau effect, the spatially modulated
density is not a periodic function of $T$, owing to spontaneous emission;
however, for sufficiently long time, the contribution from spontaneous
processes no longer plays a role and the Talbot periodicity is restored. The
structure of the spatially modulated density is studied, and is found to mirror
the atomic density following the first pulse. The spatially modulated atomic
density serves as an indirect probe of the distribution of spontaneously
emitted radiation.
