We analyze the performance of a protocol to prepare an atomic ensemble in a superposition of two macroscopically distinguishable states. The protocol relies on conditional measurements performed on a light field, which interacts with the atoms inside an optical cavity prior to detection, and we investigate cavity enhanced probing with continuous beams of both coherent and squeezed light. The stochastic master equations used in the analysis are expressed in terms of the Hamiltonian of the probed system and the interaction between the probed system and the probe field and are thus quite generally applicable.
Whether quantum physics is universally valid is an open question with far-reaching implications. Intense research is therefore invested into testing the quantum superposition principle with ever heavier and more complex objects. Here we propose a radically new, experimentally viable route towards studies at the quantum-to-classical borderline by probing the orientational quantum revivals of a nanoscale rigid rotor. The proposed interference experiment testifies a macroscopic superposition of all possible orientations. It requires no diffraction grating, uses only a single levitated particle, a…
A method for generating a mesoscopic superposition state of the collective spin variable of a gas of atoms is proposed. The state consists of a superposition of the atomic spins pointing in two slightly different directions. It is obtained by using off resonant light to carry out Quantum Non Demolition Measurements of the spins. The relevant experimental conditions, which require very dense atomic samples, can be realized with presently available techniques. Long-lived atomic superposition states may become useful as an off-line resource for quantum computing with otherwise linear operations.
We propose a scheme for creating atomic coherent superpositions via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in a Lambda-type system where the final state has twofold levels. In the employ of a control field, the presence of double dark states leads to two arbitrary coherent superposition states with equal amplitude but inverse relative phase without the condition of multi-photon resonance. In particular, two orthogonal maximal coherent superposition states are created when the control field is resonant with the transition of the twofold levels. This scheme can also be extended to manifold Lambda-ty…
We demonstrate how a superposition of coherent states can be generated for a microwave field inside a coplanar transmission line coupled to a single superconducting charge qubit, with the addition of a single classical magnetic pulse for chirping of the qubit transition frequency. We show how the qubit dephasing induces decoherence on the field superposition state, and how it can be probed by the qubit charge detection. The character of the charge qubit relaxation process itself is imprinted in the field state decoherence profile.
A scheme for preparation of coherent superposition of Fock states of electromagnetic field is constructed. The superposition state is created inside the cavity via a strong interaction of a four-level atom with quantum field of the cavity and classic laser fields. We demonstrate the possibility to create desired arbitrary superposition of the cavity Fock states just by changing the relative delay of the fields. Then, as another application of our model, we study a means of creating entanglement of neutral four-level atoms using different sequences of interactions with the cavity and laser fiel…
I present a general scheme through which the evidence of a superposition involving distinct classical-like states of a macroscopic system can be probed. The scheme relies on a qubit being coupled to a macroscopic harmonic oscillator in such a way that it can be used to both prepare and probe a macroscopic superposition. Two potentially realizable implementations, one with a flux qubit coupled to a LC circuit, and the other with an ion-trap qubit coupled to the collective motion of several ions, are proposed.
In this article we discuss two schemes of teleportation of atomic states. In the first scheme we consider atoms in a three-level cascade configuration and in the second scheme we consider atoms in a three-level lambda configuration. The experimental realization proposed makes use of cavity Quatum Electrodynamics involving the interaction of Rydberg atoms with a micromaser cavity prepared in a state $|ψ>_{C}=(|0> +|1>)/\sqrt{2}$
We propose to create and stabilize long-lived macroscopic quantum superposition states in atomic ensembles. We show that using a fully quantum parametric amplifier can cause the simultaneous decay of two atoms and, in turn, create stabilized atomic Schrödinger cat states. Remarkably, even with modest parameters these intracavity atomic cat states can have an extremely long lifetime, up to \emph{4 orders of magnitude} longer than that of intracavity photonic cat states under the same parameter conditions, reaching \emph{tens of milliseconds}. This lifetime of atomic cat states is ultimately lim…
Coherent wave splitting is crucial in interferometers. Normally, the waves after this splitting are of the same type. But recent progress in interaction between atom and light has led to the coherent conversion of photon to atomic excitation. This makes it possible to split an incoming light wave into a coherent superposition state of atom and light and paves the way for an interferometer made of different types of waves. Here we report on a Rabi-like coherent-superposition oscillation observed between atom and light and a coherent mixing of light wave with excited atomic spin wave in a Raman …
Deflection of atoms in Λ-type configuration passing through two crossed standing light waves is proposed for probing and visualization of atomic superposition states. For this goal, we use both the large-dispersive and Raman-resonant regimes of atom-field interaction giving rise to a position-dependent phase shifts of fields and perform double simultaneous spatial measurements on an atom. In this way, it is demonstrated that the deflection spatial patterns of atoms in Λ-configuration passing through modes of standing waves are essentially modified if the atoms are initially prepared in a coher…
We utilise a magneto-mechanical levitated massive resonator in the quantum regime to prepare highly macroscopic quantum superposition states. Using these macroscopic superpositions we present a novel interferometry protocol to perform absolute gravimetry with a sensitivity that exceeds state of the art atom-interferometric and corner-cube gravimeters by a factor of 20. In addition, our scheme allows probing the gravitational field on a length scale eight orders of magnitude smaller than other methods.
We describe parametric down conversion process in a two-level atomic gas, where the atoms are in a superposition state of relevant energy levels. This superposition results in splitting of the phase matching condition into three different conditions. Another, more important, peculiarity of the system under discussion is the nonsaturability of amplification coefficients with increasing pump wave intensity, under "sideband" generation conditions.
Atomic (qubit) and optical or microwave (modal) phase-estimation protocols are placed on the same footing in terms of quantum-circuit diagrams. Circuit equivalences are used to demonstrate the equivalence of protocols that achieve the Heisenberg limit by employing entangled superpositions of Fock states, such as N00N states. The key equivalences are those that disentangle a circuit so that phase information is written exclusively on a mode or modes or on a qubit. The Fock-state-superposition phase-estimation circuits are converted to use entangled coherent-state superpositions; the resulting p…
The wave function of an atom passed through a diffraction grating acquires a regular space structure and the interaction of another particle with this atom can be thought of as scattering on a 'quantum grating' composed of a single atom. Probing this 'grating' by collisions with charged projectiles reveals interference effects due to coherent contributions of its 'slits' to the transition amplitude. In particular, the spectra of electrons emitted from the atom in collisions with swift ions exhibit a pronounced interference pattern whose shape can be extremely sensitive to the collision velocit…
Ultracold atoms are trapped circumferentially on a ring that is pierced at its center by a flux tube arising from a light-induced gauge potential due to applied Laguerre-Gaussian fields. We show that by using optical coherent state superpositions to produce light-induced gauge potentials, we can create a situation in which the trapped atoms are simultaneously exposed to two distinct flux tubes, thereby creating superpositions in atomic quantum rings. We consider the examples of both a ring geometry and harmonic trapping, and in both cases the ground state of the quantum system is shown to be a…
In this paper we study the evolution of the two two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode quantized radiation field, namely, two-atom multiphoton Jaynes-Cummings model when the radiation field and atoms are initially prepared in the superpostion of displaced number states and excited atomic states, respectively. For this system we investigate the atomic inversion, Wigner function, phase distribution and entanglement.
We consider the dephasing of two internal states |0> and |1> of a trapped impurity atom, a so-called atomic quantum dot (AQD), where only state |1> couples to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). A direct relation between the dephasing of the internal states of the AQD and the temporal phase fluctuations of the BEC is established. Based on this relation we suggest a scheme to probe BEC phase fluctuations nondestructively via dephasing measurements of the AQD. In particular, the scheme allows to trace the dependence of the phase fluctuations on the trapping geometry of the BEC.
We discuss a simple scheme for preparing atoms and molecules in an arbitrary preselected coherent superposition of quantum states. The technique, which we call fractional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage ({\it f-STIRAP}), is based upon (incomplete) adiabatic population transfer between an initial state $ψ_1$ and state $ψ_3$ through an intermediate state $ψ_2$. As in STIRAP, the Stokes pulse arrives before the pump pulse, but unlike STIRAP, the two pulses terminate simultaneously while maintaining a constant ratio of amplitudes. The independence of f-STIRAP from details of pulse shape and pul…
Probing quantumness of superpositions of Gaussian states via Tsirelson probability
State Key Laboratory of Mathematical Science, Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院数学与系统科学研究院数学科学重点实验室）；School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学数学科学学院）
We investigate prospects of using counter-rotating vortex superposition states in non-equilibrium exciton-polariton Bose-Einstein condensates for the purposes of Sagnac interferometry. We first investigate the stability of vortex-antivortex superposition states, and show that they survive at steady-state in a variety of configurations. Counter-rotating vortex superpositions are of potential interest to gyroscope and seismometer applications for detecting rotations. Methods of improving the sensitivity are investigated by targeting high momentum states via metastable condensation, and the appli…
Ultracold atoms interacting with the optical modes of a high-Q optical ring cavity can synchronize their motion. The collective behavior makes the system interesting for quantum computing applications. This paper is devoted to the study of the collective coupling. We report on the first observation of a collective dynamics and on the realization of a laser, the gain mechanism of which is based on collective atomic recoil. We show that, if the atoms are subject to a friction force, starting from an unordered distribution they spontaneously form a moving density grating. Furthermore, we demonstr…
Although constructing a quantum computation device with multiple qubits is arguably a difficult task, several seconds of coherence time with tens of thousands of quantum particles has been demonstrated with a trapped atomic ensemble. As a practical application, a security-enhanced quantum state memory using atoms has been demonstrated. It was shown that the quantum superposition preserved in an atomic ensemble was scrambled and faithfully descrambled; however, the scrambled phase ambiguity remained at 50 %. To overcome this problem, we propose and demonstrate a scheme that achieves 100 % phase…
In this paper we discuss the quantum properties for superposition of squeezed displaced number states against multiphoton Jaynes-Cummings model (JCM). In particular, we investigate atomic inversion, photon-number distribution, purity, quadrature squeezing, Mandel $Q$ parameter and Wigner function. We show that the quadrature squeezing for three-photon absorption case can exhibit revivals and collapses typical to those occurring in the atomic inversion for one-photon absorption case. Also we prove that for odd number absorption parameter there is a connection between the evolution of the atomic…
We propose a realizable experimental scheme to prepare a superposition of the vacuum and one-photon states using a typical cavity QED-setup. This is different from previous schemes, where the superposition state of the field is generated by resonant atom-field interaction and the cavity is initially empty. Here, we consider only dispersive atom-field interaction and the initial state of the cavity field is coherent. Then, we determine the parameters to prepare the desired state via atomic postselection. We also include the effect of cavity losses and detection imperfections in our analysis, ag…
We describe the controlled loading and measurement of number-squeezed states and Poisson states of atoms in individual sites of a double well optical lattice. These states are input to an atom interferometer that is realized by symmetrically splitting individual lattice sites into double wells, allowing atoms in individual sites to evolve independently. The two paths then interfere, creating a matter-wave double-slit diffraction pattern. The time evolution of the double-slit diffraction pattern is used to measure the number statistics of the input state. The flexibility of our double well latt…
We present a theory for the estimation of a classical magnetic field by an atomic sample with a gaussian distribution of collective spin components. By incorporating the magnetic field and the probing laser field as quantum variables with gaussian distributions on equal footing with the atoms, we obtain a very versatile description which is readily adapted to include probing with squeezed light, dissipation and loss and additional measurement capabilities on the atomic system.
Atomic clocks use atomic transitions as frequency references. The susceptibility of the atomic transition to external fields limits clock stability and introduces systematic frequency shifts. Here, we propose to realize an atomic clock that utilizes an entangled superposition of states of multiple atomic species, where the reference frequency is a sum of the individual transition frequencies. The superposition is selected such that the susceptibilities of the respective transitions, in individual species, destructively interfere leading to improved stability and reduced systematic shifts. We p…
We propose a simple technique to generate entanglement between distant cavities by using entanglement swapping involving atomic momenta. For the proposed scheme, we have two identical atoms, both initially in their ground state, each incident on far apart cavities with particular initial momenta. The two cavities are prepared initially in superposition of zero and one photon state. First, we interact each atom with a cavity in dispersive way. The interaction results into atom-field entangled state. Then we perform EPR state measurement on both atomic momenta state which is an analog of Bell me…
We predict the possibility of sharp, high-contrast resonances in the optical response of a broad class of systems, wherein interference effects are generated by coherent perturbation or interaction of dark states. The properties of these resonances can be manipulated to design a desired atomic response.
We consider two identical bosons propagating on a one-dimensional lattice and address the prob- lem of discriminating whether their mutual on-site interaction is attractive or repulsive. We suggest a probing scheme based on the properties of the corresponding two-particle quantum walks, and show that the sign of the interaction introduces specific and detectable features in the dynamics of quantum correlations, thus permitting to discriminate between the two cases. We also discuss how these features are connected to the band-structure of the Hubbard Hamiltonian, and prove that discrimination m…
Superpositions of paraxial laser beam modes to generate atom-optical lenses based on the optical dipole force are investigated theoretically. Thin, wide, parabolic, cylindrical and circular atom lenses with numerical apertures much greater than those reported in the literature to date can be synthesized. This superposition approach promises to make high quality atom beam imaging and nano-deposition feasible.
We introduce a one-dimensional system of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice whose phase diagram includes topological states of different symmetry classes. These states can be identified by their zero-energy edge modes which are Majorana fermions. We propose several universal methods of detecting the Majorana edge states, based on their genuine features: zero-energy, localized character of the wave functions, and induced non-local fermionic correlations.
We propose to create superposition states of over 100 Strontium atoms being in a ground state or metastable optical clock state, using the Kerr-type interaction due to Rydberg state dressing in an optical lattice. The two components of the superposition can differ by of order 300 eV in energy, allowing tests of energy decoherence models with greatly improved sensitivity. We take into account the effects of higher-order nonlinearities, spatial inhomogeneity of the interaction, decay from the Rydberg state, collective many-body decoherence, atomic motion, molecular formation and diminishing Rydb…
Non-local mass superpositions and optical clock interferometry in atomic ensemble quantum networks
University of Innsbruck（因斯布鲁克大学）；Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences（奥地利科学院量子光学和量子信息研究所）；Leibniz Universität Hannover（汉诺威莱布尼茨大学）；JILA, NIST and Department of Physics, University of Colorado（科罗拉多大学JILA、美国国家标准与技术研究院及物理系）；Center for Theory of Quantum Matter, University of Colorado（科罗拉多大学量子物质理论中心）
In this article we discuss the realization of atomic GHZ states involving three-level atoms in a cascade and in a lambda configuration and we show explicitly how to use this state to perform the GHZ test in which it is possible to decide between local realism theories and quantum mechanics. The experimental realizations proposed makes use the interaction of Rydberg atoms with a cavity prepared in a state which is a superposition of zero and one Fock states.
We consider squeezing of one component of the collective spin vector of an atomic ensemble inside an optical cavity. The atoms interact with a cavity mode, and the squeezing is obtained by probing the state of the light field that is transmitted through the cavity. Starting from the stochastic master equation, we derive the time evolution of the state of the atoms and the cavity field, and we compute expectation values and variances of the atomic spin components and the quadratures of the cavity mode. The performance of the setup is compared to spin squeezing of atoms by probing of a light fie…
An automated and robust method for adiabatic population transfer and the preparation of an arbitrary quantum superposition state in atomic system using the oscillating dark states (ODS) is presented. Quantum state of a three-level $Λ$ configuration atomic system oscillates periodically between two ground levels, when two pairs of classical detuning laser fields driving the system into the ODS under evolving adiabatic conditions. The decoherence of the ODS evolution is greatly suppressed, and the oscillation is very stable, therefore adiabatic population transfer and the preparation of an arbit…
We consider a gas of attractively interacting cold Fermionic atoms which are manipulated by laser light. The laser induces a transition from an internal state with large negative scattering length to one with almost no interactions. The process can be viewed as a tunneling of atomic population between the superconducting and the normal states of the gas. It can be used to detect the BCS-ground state and to measure the superconducting order parameter.
We report on non-destructive observation of Rabi oscillations on the Cs clock transition. The internal atomic state evolution of a dipole-trapped ensemble of cold atoms is inferred from the phase shift of a probe laser beam as measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We describe a single color as well as a two-color probing scheme. Using the latter, measurements of the collective pseudo-spin projection of atoms in a superposition of the clock states are performed and the observed spin fluctuations are shown to be close to the standard quantum limit.
We establish an objective scheme to determine the macroscopicity of quantum mechanical superposition tests, which is based on the Bayesian hypothesis falsification of macrorealistic modifications of quantum theory. The measure uses the raw data gathered in an experiment, taking into account all measurement uncertainties, and can be used to directly assess any conceivable quantum test. We determine the resulting macroscopicity for three recent tests of quantum physics: double-well interference of Bose-Einstein condensates, Leggett-Garg tests with atomic random walks, and entanglement generation…
Probing quantum mechanics, quantum aspects of general relativity along with the sensing and the constraining of classical gravity can all be enabled by unprecedented spatial sizes of superpositions of massive objects. In this paper, we show that there is a feasible setup sourced by realizable magnetic field gradients ${\cal O}(10-100)$ Tm$^{-1}$ to construct a large spatial superposition of ${\cal O}(10^{-4}-10^{-8})$ m for masses ${\cal O}(10^{-16}-10^{-14})$ kg over a time period of up to $0.1-10$ seconds.
The possibility of observing nonclassical features in a physical system comprised of a cavity with two ensembles of two-level atoms has been investigated by considering different configurations of the ensembles with respect to the Node and Antinode of the cavity field under the framework of open quantum systems. The study reveals the strong presence of nonclassical characters in the physical system by establishing the existence of many facets of nonclassicality, such as the sub-Poissonian boson statistics and squeezing in single modes, intermodal squeezing, intermodal entanglement, antibunchin…
Quantum mechanics predicts microscopic phenomena with undeniable success. Nevertheless, current theoretical and experimental efforts still do not yield conclusive evidence that there is, or not, a fundamental limitation on the possibility to observe quantum phenomena at the macroscopic scale. This question prompted several experimental efforts producing quantum superpositions of large quantum states in light or matter. Here we report on the observation of entanglement between a single photon and an atomic ensemble. The certified entanglement stems from a light-matter micro-macro entangled stat…
This paper is a proposal for the generation of many-body entangled state in atomic and mechanical systems. Application of strong Rydberg dressing interaction and fast bifurcation scheme in an ultra-stable Cs lattice clock in this proposal results to a breakthrough in the formation of large cat states. By detailed study of the de-coherence effects using Quantum Jump Monte Carlo approach and considering obstacles in dense ensembles namely level mixing, molecule formation and collective decoherence this proposal predicts the formation of 700 atoms cat state. Dipole coupling between Rydberg atoms …
We propose and discuss `quantum spin lenses', where quantum states of delocalized spin excitations in an atomic medium are `focused' in space in a coherent quantum process down to (essentially) single atoms. These can be employed to create controlled interactions in a quantum light-matter interface, where photonic qubits stored in an atomic ensemble are mapped to a quantum register represented by single atoms. We propose Hamiltonians for quantum spin lenses as inhomogeneous spin models on lattices, which can be realized with Rydberg atoms in 1D, 2D and 3D, and with strings of trapped ions. We …
We consider an ensemble of trapped atoms interacting with a continuous wave laser field. For sufficiently polarized atoms and for a polarized light field, we may approximate the non-classical components of the collective spin angular momentum operator for the atoms and the Stokes vectors of the field by effective position and momentum variables for which we assume a gaussian state. Within this approximation, we present a theory for the squeezing of the atomic spin by polarization rotation measurements on the probe light. We derive analytical expressions for the squeezing with and without inclu…
We investigate the time evolution of a superposition of macroscopically distinct quantum states in a system of two-level atoms interacting with a thermal environment of photon modes. We show that the atomic coherent states are robust against decoherence, therefore we call their superpositions atomic Schrödinger cat states. The initial fast regime of the time evolution is associated with the process of decoherence, and it is directed towards the statistical mixture of the constituent coherent states of the original state for most of the initial conditions. However, certain superpositions, calle…
We propose an experiment to directly probe the non-Abelian statistics of Majorana fermions by braiding them in an s-wave superfluid of ultracold atoms. We show different orders of braiding operations give orthogonal output states that can be distinguished through Raman spectroscopy. Realization of Majorana bound states in an s-wave superfluid requires strong spin-orbital coupling and a controllable Zeeman field in the perpendicular direction. We present a simple laser configuration to generate the artificial spin-orbital coupling and the required Zeeman field in the dark state subspace.
We propose a probabilistic scheme to prepare a maximally entangled state between a pair of two-level atoms inside a leaking cavity, without requiring precise time-controlling of the system evolution and initial atomic state. We show that the steady state of this dissipative system is a mixture of two parts: either the atoms being in their ground state or in a maximally entangled one. Then, by applying a weak probe field on the cavity mode we are able to distinguish those states without disturbing the atomic system, i.e., performing a quantum non-demolition measurement via the cavity transmissi…
We show how impurity atoms can measure moments of ultracold atomic gas densities, using the example of bosons in a one-dimensional lattice. This builds on a body of work regarding the probing of systems by measuring the dephasing of an immersed qubit. We show this dephasing is captured by a function resembling characteristic functions of probability theory, of which the derivatives at short times reveal moments of the system operator to which the qubit couples. For a qubit formed by an impurity atom, in a system of ultracold atoms, this operator can be the density of the system at the location…
