Production of superpositions of coherent states in traveling optical fields with inefficient photon detection

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.013801· OSTI ID:20718412

Jeong, H; Lund, A P; Ralph, T C ^[1]

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1. Center for Quantum Computer Technology, Department of Physics, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072 (Australia)

We develop an all-optical scheme to generate superpositions of macroscopically distinguishable coherent states in traveling optical fields. It nondeterministically distills coherent-state superpositions (CSS's) with large amplitudes out of CSS's with small amplitudes using inefficient photon detection. The small CSS's required to produce CSS's with larger amplitudes are extremely well approximated by squeezed single photons. We discuss some remarkable features of this scheme: it effectively purifies mixed initial states emitted from inefficient single-photon sources and boosts negativity of Wigner functions of quantum states.

• OSTI ID: 20718412
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 72; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
ANNIHILATION OPERATORS
DETECTION
EIGENSTATES
EMISSION
ENERGY LEVELS
PHOTONS