Excitation of an Atomic Electron to a Coherent Superposition of Macroscopically Distinct States
- The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 (United States)
An atomic electron is prepared in a state closely analogous to Schr{umlt o}dinger{close_quote}s coherent superposition of {open_quote}{open_quote}live cat{close_quote}{close_quote} and {open_quote}{open_quote}dead cat.{close_quote}{close_quote} The electronic state is a coherent superposition of two spatially localized wave packets separated by approximately 0.4 {mu}m at the opposite extremes of a Kepler orbit. State-selective ionization is used to verify that only every other atomic level is populated in the {open_quote}{open_quote}cat state,{close_quote}{close_quote} and a Ramsey fringe measurement is used to verify the coherence of the superposition. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
- OSTI ID:
- 383270
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 77; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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