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Title: Quantum nondemolition measurement of parity and generation of parity eigenstates in optical fields

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.72.0· OSTI ID:20786597
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, New York 10468-1589 (United States)

The parity of photonic number states is known to be an important observable for quantized electromagnetic fields with applications to quantum information processing and to Heisenberg-limited measurement of phase shifts in quantum interferometry performed with maximally entangled states and with twin number states. In this paper we describe an approach to the quantum nondemolition measurement of parity for quantized optical fields. The method proposed involves the use of a cross-Kerr interaction where we assume a large Kerr nonlinearity is available through the techniques of electromagnetically induced transparency. Our proposed method does not require the measurement of photon number but rather measures parity directly. The method not only allows for the quantum nondemolition measurement of parity but also allows for the von Neumann projection of parity eigenstates from an arbitrary field state. The generation and detection of higher-order parity eigenstates is also discussed. Losses from dissipation and the effects of detector efficiency are considered.

OSTI ID:
20786597
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Vol. 72, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.72.053818; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English