We investigate the superposition of four different quantum states based on the $q$-oscillator. These quantum states are expressed by means of Rogers-Szegö polynomials. We show that such a superposition has the properties of the quantum harmonic oscillator when $q\to 1$, and those of a compass state with the appearance of chessboard-type interference patterns when $q \to 0$.
We propose a method using the dispersive interaction between atoms and a high quality cavity to realize the mesoscopic superposition of coherent states which would exhibit sub-Planck structures in phase space. In particular we focus on a superposition involving four coherent states. We show interesting interferences in the conditional measurements involving two atoms.
Using the formalism of {\it renormalized} coordinates and \textit{dressed} states introduced in previous publications, we perform a nonperturbative study of the time evolution of a superposition of two states, the ground state and the first excited level of a harmonic oscillator, the system being confined in a perfectly reflecting cavity of radius $R$. For $R\to\infty$, we find dissipation with dominance of the interference terms of the density matrix, in both weak- and strong-coupling regimes. For small values of $R$ all elements of the density matrix present an oscillatory behavior as times …
We demonstrate the possibility of realizing sub-Planck-scale structures in the mesoscopic superposition of molecular wave packets involving vibrational levels. The time evolution of the wave packet, taken here as the SU(2) coherent state of the Morse potential describing hydrogen iodide molecules, produces macroscopicquantum- superposition-like states, responsible for the above phenomenon. We investigate the phase-space dynamics of the coherent state through the Wigner function approach and identify the interference phenomena behind the sub-Planck-scale structures. The optimal parameter ranges…
The time evolution of thermal states of a mirror released from a tight harmonic trap is studied. After the release no dissipation is assumed to be present and the mirror is, after a time delay, kicked into a momentum superposition state. The thermal character of the initial state washes out the telltale interference patterns of the superposition but no loss of coherence is found. This investigation resolves a controversy about decoherence--without--dissipation and shows that entrained measurements can be surprisingly insensitive to temperature effects.
The problem of generating discrete superpositions of coherent states in the process of light propagation through a nonlinear Kerr medium, which is modelled by the anharmonic oscillator, is discussed. It is shown that under an appropriate choice of the length (time) of the medium the superpositions with both even and odd numbers of coherent states can appear. Analytical formulae for such superpositions with a few components are given explicitly. General rules governing the process of generating discrete superpositions of coherent states are also given. The maximum number of well distinguished s…
We suggest a variant of the recently proposed experiment for the generation of a new kind of Schroedinger-cat states, using two coupled parametric down-converter nonlinear crystals [F. De Martini, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 2842 (1998)]. We study the parametric oscillator case and find that an entangled Schroedinger-cat type state of two cavities, whose mirrors are placed along the output beams of the nonlinear crystals, can be realized under suitable conditions.
We demonstrate a method which allows the stochastic modelling of quantum systems for which the generalised Fokker-Planck equation in the phase space contains derivatives of higher than second order. This generalises quantum stochastics far beyond the quantum-optical paradigm of three and four-wave mixing problems to which these techniques have so far only been applicable. To verify our method, we model a full Wigner representation for the optical parametric oscillator, a system where the correct results are well known and can be obtained by other methods.
It is shown that in one spatial dimension the quantum oscillator is dual to the charged particle situated in the field described by the superposition of Coulomb and Calogero-Sutherland potentials.
The Schwinger's representation of angular momentum(AM) relates two important fundamental models, that of AM and that of harmonic oscillator(HO). However, the representation offers only the relations of operators but not states. Here, by developing a graphic method to calculate the states, we show that the Schwinger's model is valid only with certain spin. With the relation of states, we also demonstrate how the superposition states in AM map to entangled states in HO. This study has promising applications in quantum computation, and may cast light on the relation between superposition and enta…
The Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) is a modification of Heisenberg's Principle predicted by several theories of Quantum Gravity. It consists of a modified commutator between position and momentum. In this work we compute potentially observable effects that GUP implies for the harmonic oscillator, coherent and squeezed states in Quantum Mechanics. In particular, we rigorously analyze the GUP-perturbed harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian, defining new operators that act as ladder operators on the perturbed states. We use these operators to define the new coherent and squeezed states. We com…
The construction of a class of unitary operators generating linear superpositions of generalized coherent states from the ground state of a quantum harmonic oscillator is reported. Such a construction, based on the properties of a new ad hoc introduced set of hermitian operators, leads to the definition of new basis in the oscillator Hilbert space, extending in a natural way the displaced Fock states basis. The potential development of our method and our results is briefly outlined.
We present an interesting result regarding the implication of truncating the wavepacket of the harmonic oscillator. We show that disregarding the non-significant tails of a function which is the superposition of eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator has a remarkable consequence: namely, there exist infinitely many different superpositions giving rise to the same function on the interval. Uniqueness, in the case of a wavepacket, is restored by a postulate of quantum mechanics.
We investigate the sub-Planck-scale structures associated with the SU(1,1) group by establishing that the Planck scale on the hyperbolic plane can be considered as the inverse of the Bargmann index $k$. Our discussion involves SU(1,1) versions of Wigner functions, and the quantum-interference effect is easily visualized through plots of these Wigner functions. Specifically, the superpositions of four Perelomov SU(1,1) coherent states (compass state) yield nearly isotropic sub-Planck structures in phase space scaling as $\frac1{k}$ compared with $\frac1{\sqrt{k}}$ scaling for individual SU(1,1)…
Environment induced decoherence entails the absence of quantum interference phenomena from the macroworld. The loss of coherence between superposed wave packets depends on their separation. The precise temporal course depends on the relative size of the time scales for decoherence and other processes taking place in the open system and its environment. We use the exactly solvable model of an harmonic oscillator coupled to a bath of oscillators to illustrate various decoherence scenarios: These range from exponential golden-rule decay for microscopic superpositions, system-specific decay for la…
Schrödinger's thought experiment to prepare a cat in a superposition of both alive and dead states reveals profound consequences of quantum mechanics and has attracted enormous interests. Here we propose a straightforward method to create quantum superposition states of a living microorganism by putting a small cryopreserved bacterium on top of an electromechanical oscillator. Our proposal is based on recent developments that the center-of-mass oscillation of a 15-$μ$m-diameter aluminium membrane has been cooled to its quantum ground state [Nature 475: 359 (2011)], and entangled with a microwa…
We describe a family of quantum states of the Schrödinger cat type as superpositions of the harmonic oscillator coherent states with coefficients defined by the quadratic Gauss sums. These states emerge as eigenfunctions of the lowering operators obtained after canonical transformations of the Heisenberg-Weyl algebra associated with the ordinary and fractional Fourier transformation. The first member of this family is given by the well known Yurke-Stoler coherent state.
Exploiting the correspondence between Wigner distribution function and a frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) measurement, we experimentally demonstrate existence of the chessboard-like interference patterns with a time-bandwidth product smaller than that of a transform-limited pulse in the phase space representation of compass states. Using superpositions of four electric pulses as realization of compass states, we have shown via direct measurements that displacements leading to orthogonal states can be smaller than limits set by uncertainty relations. In the experiment we observe an exac…
We present a novel proposal for generating quantum superpositions of macroscopically distinct states of a bulk mechanical oscillator, compatible with existing optomechanical devices operating in the readily achievable bad-cavity limit. The scheme is based on a pulsed cavity optomechanical quantum non-demolition (QND) interaction, driven by displaced non-Gaussian states, and measurement-induced feedback, avoiding the need for strong single-photon optomechanical coupling. Furthermore, we show that single-quadrature cooling of the mechanical oscillator is sufficient for efficient state preparatio…
Considering a network of dissipative quantum harmonic oscillators we deduce and analyze the optimum topologies which are able to store, for the largest period of time, a quantum superposition previously prepared in one of the network oscillators. The storage of the superposition is made dynamically, in that the state to be protected evolves through the network before being retrieved back in the oscillator where it was prepared. The decoherence time during the dynamic storage process is computed and we demonstrate that it is proportional to the number of oscillators in the network for a particu…
We show how sub-Planck phase-space structures in the Wigner function can be used to achieve Heisenberg-limited sensitivity in weak force measurements. Nonclassical states of harmonic oscillators, consisting of superpositions of coherent states, are shown to be useful for the measurement of weak forces that cause translations or rotations in phase space, which is done by entangling the quantum oscillator with a two-level system. Implementations of this strategy in cavity QED and ion traps are described.
The discrete phase space continuous time representation of relativistic quantum mechanics involving a characteristic length $l$ is investigated. Fundamental physical constants such as $\hbar$, $c$, and $l$ are retained for most sections of the paper. The energy eigenvalue problem for the Planck oscillator is solved exactly in this framework. Discrete concircular orbits of constant energy are shown to be circles $S^{1}_{n}$ of radii $2E_n =\sqrt{2n+1}$ within the discrete (1 + 1)-dimensional phase plane. Moreover, the time evolution of these orbits sweep out world-sheet like geometrical entitie…
In a recent thermodynamic analysis of the harmonic oscillator and using an interpolation procedure, Boyer has shown that the existence of a zero-point energy leads to the Planck spectrum. Here we avoid the interpolation by adding a statistical argument to arrive at Planck's law as an inescapable result of the presence of the zero-point energy. No explicit quantum argument is introduced along the derivations. We disclose the connection of our results with the original analysis of Planck and Einstein, which led to the notion of the quantized radiation field. We then inquire into the discrete or …
The ability of matter to be superposed at two different locations while being intrinsically connected by a quantum phase is among the most counterintuitive predictions of quantum physics. While such superpositions have been created for a variety of systems, the in-situ observation of the phase coherence has remained out of reach. Using a heralding measurement on a spin-oscillator entangled state, we project a mechanical trapped-ion oscillator into a superposition of two spatially separated states, a situation analogous to Schrödinger's cat. Quantum interference is clearly observed by extractin…
We present experimental data of the frequency resolved optical gating (FROG) measurements of light pulses revealing interference features corresponding to sub-Planck structures in phase space. For superpositions of pulses a small, sub-Fourier shift in the carrier frequency leads to a state orthogonal to the initial one, although in the representation of standard time-frequency distributions these states seem to have a nonvanishing overlap.
A phase controlled wave packet, recently used in experiment of wave packet interferometry of adiatomic molecule, is investigated to obtain mesoscopic superposition structures, useful in quantum metrology. This analysis provides a new way of obtaining sub-Planck scale structures at smaller time scale of revival dynamics. We study a number of situations for delineating the smallest interference structures and their control by tailoring the relative phase between two subsidiary wave packets. We also find the most appropriate state, so far, for high precision parameter estimation in a system of di…
We analyze the recent proposal of measuring a quantum gravity phenomenon in the lab by entangling two particles gravitationally. We give a generally covariant description of this phenomenon, where the relevant effect turns out to be a quantum superposition of proper times. We point out that measurement of this effect would count as evidence for quantum superposition of spacetime geometries. This interpretation addresses objections appeared in the literature. We observe that the effect sheds light on the Planck mass, and argue that it is very plausibly a real effect.
The dynamics of nonlinear systems qualitatively change depending on their parameters, which is called bifurcation. A quantum-mechanical nonlinear oscillator can yield a quantum superposition of two oscillation states, known as a Schrödinger cat state, via quantum adiabatic evolution through its bifurcation point. Here we propose a quantum computer comprising such quantum nonlinear oscillators, instead of quantum bits, to solve hard combinatorial optimization problems. The nonlinear oscillator network finds optimal solutions via quantum adiabatic evolution, where nonlinear terms are increased s…
Time evolution of the expectation values of various dynamical operators of the harmonic oscillator with dissipation is analitically obtained within the framework of the Lindblad theory for open quantum systems. We deduce the density matrix of the damped harmonic oscillator from the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation for the coherent state representation, obtained from the master equation for the density operator. The Fokker-Planck equation for the Wigner distribution function, subject to either the Gaussian type or the $δ$-function type of initial conditions, is also solved by using the Wa…
We study the evolution of an oscillator interacting via the most general bilinear coupling (with time-independent coefficients) with an ``environment'' consisting of a set of other harmonic oscillators. We are mainly interested in a possibility of using the Fokker-Planck equation to describe this evolution. Studying different interaction Hamiltonians, we show that unambiguous reduction to the Fokker-Planck equation is possible only within the framework of the so called rotating-wave approximation. As special cases we consider in detail the evolution of two coupled oscillators and relaxation of…
Quantum information encoded into superposition of coherent states is an illustrative representative of practical applications of macroscopic quantum coherence possessing. However, these states are very sensitive to energy loss, losing their non-classical aspects of coherence very rapidly. An available deterministic strategy to slow down this decoherence process is to apply a Gaussian squeezing transformation prior to the loss as a protective step. Here, we propose a deterministic hybrid protection scheme utilizing strong but feasible interactions with two-level ancillas immune to spontaneous e…
We propose a scheme for creating quantum superposition states involving of order $10^{14}$ atoms via the interaction of a single photon with a tiny mirror. This mirror, mounted on a high-quality mechanical oscillator, is part of a high-finesse optical cavity which forms one arm of a Michelson interferometer. By observing the interference of the photon only, one can study the creation and decoherence of superpositions involving the mirror. All experimental requirements appear to be within reach of current technology.
We propose a novel approach to qubit thermometry using a quantum switch, that introduces an indefinite causal order in the probe-bath interaction, to significantly enhance the thermometric precision. The resulting qubit probe shows improved precision in both low and high temperature regimes when compared to optimal qubit probes studied previously. It even performs better than a Harmonic oscillator probe, in spite of having only two energy levels rather than an infinite number of energy levels as that in a harmonic oscillator. We thereby show unambiguously that quantum resources such as the qua…
Classical and nonclassical states of quantum complex oscillators with real spectrum are presented. Such states are bi-orthonormal superpositions of $n+1$ energy eigenvectors of the system with binomial-like coefficients. For large values of $n$ these optimized binomial states behave as photon added coherent states when the imaginary part of the potential is cancelled.
We propose a scheme to prepare macroscopic quantum superpositions of motion in optomachanical nano- or micromechanical oscillators quadratically coupled to an intracavity field. The nonlinear optomechanical coupling leads to an effective degenerate three-wave mixing interaction between the mechanical and cavity modes. The quantum superpositions result from the combined effects of the interaction and cavity dissipation. We show analytically and confirm numerically that various deterministic quantum superpositions can be achieved, depending on initial mechanical state. The effect of mechanical d…
We demonstrate a quantum regime of dissipative nonlinear oscillator where creation of Fock states as well as superpositions of Fock states are realized for time-intervals exceeding the characteristic decoherence time. Preparation of quantum states is conditioned by strong Kerr nonlinearity as well as by excitation of resolved lower oscillatory energy levels with specific train of Gaussian pulses. This provides practical signatures to look for in experiments with cooled nonlinear oscillators.
Hallmarks of quantum mechanics include superposition and entanglement. In the context of large complex systems, these features should lead to situations like Schrodinger's cat, which exists in a superposition of alive and dead states entangled with a radioactive nucleus. Such situations are not observed in nature. This may simply be due to our inability to sufficiently isolate the system of interest from the surrounding environment -- a technical limitation. Another possibility is some as-of-yet undiscovered mechanism that prevents the formation of macroscopic entangled states. Such a limitati…
Coherent-state superpositions are of great importance for many quantum subjects, ranging from foundational to technological, e.g., from tests of collapse models to quantum metrology. Here we explore various aspects of these states, related to the connection between sub-Planck structures present in their Wigner function and their sensitivity to displacements (ultimately determining their metrological potential). We review this for the usual Heisenberg-Weyl algebra associated to a harmonic oscillator, and extend it to find analogous results for the $\mathfrak{su}(2)$ algebra, typically associate…
We motivate and introduce a class of "hierarchical" quantum superposition states of $N$ coupled quantum oscillators. Unlike other well-known multimode photonic Schrödinger cat states such as entangled coherent states, the hierarchical superposition states are characterized as two-branch superpositions of tensor products of single-mode Schrödinger cat states. In addition to analyzing the photon statistics and quasiprobability distributions of prominent examples of these nonclassical states, we consider their usefulness for high-precision quantum metrology of nonlinear optical Hamiltonians and q…
We investigate the utility of non classical states of simple harmonic oscillators, particularly a superposition of coherent states, for sensitive force detection. We find that like squeezed states a superposition of coherent states allows displacement measurements at the Heisenberg limit. Entangling many superpositions of coherent states offers a significant advantage over a single mode superposition states with the same mean photon number.
A new scheme of field quantization is proposed. Instead of associating with different frequencies different oscillators we begin with a single oscillator that can exist in a superposition of different frequencies. The idea is applied to the electromagnetic radiation field. Using the standard Dirac-type mode-quantization of the electromagnetic field we obtain several standard properties such as coherent states or spontaneous and stimulated emission. As opposed to the standard approach the vacuum energy is finite and does not have to be removed by any ad hoc procedure.
We investigate superpositions of two-mode squeezed states (TMSSs), which have potential applications to quantum information processing and quantum sensing. Firstly we study some properties of these nonclassical states such as the statistics of each mode and the degree of entanglement between the two modes, which can be higher than that of a TMSS with the same degree of squeezing. The states we consider can be prepared by inducing two-mode Jaynes-Cummings and anti-Jaynes-Cummings interactions in a system of two modes and a spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}$ particle, for instance in the trapped ion domain, as…
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…
Quantum theory of a three-photon Kerr parametric oscillator
PSI Center for Photon Science（瑞士保罗谢勒研究所光子科学中心）；Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel（巴塞尔大学瑞士纳米科学研究所）；Department of Physics, University of Basel（巴塞尔大学物理系）；JEIP, UAR 3573 CNRS, Collège de France, PSL Research University（法国国家科学研究中心联合研究单位3573，法兰西学院，巴黎文理研究大学）
The ability to coherently couple arbitrary harmonic oscillators in a fully-controlled way is an important tool to process quantum information. Coupling between quantum harmonic oscillators has previously been demonstrated in several physical systems by use of a two-level system as a mediating element. Direct interaction at the quantum level has only recently been realized by use of resonant coupling between trapped ions. Here we implement a tunable direct coupling between the microwave harmonics of a superconducting resonator by use of parametric frequency conversion. We accomplish this by cou…
A variety of coherent states of the harmonic oscillator is considered. It is formed by a particular superposition of canonical coherent states. In the simplest case, these superpositions are eigenfunctions of the annihilation operator $A=P(d/dx+x)/\sqrt2$, where $P$ is the parity operator. Such $A$ arises naturally in the $q\to -1$ limit for a symmetry operator of a specific self-similar potential obeying the $q$-Weyl algebra, $AA^\dagger-q^2A^\dagger A=1$. Coherent states for this and other reflectionless potentials whose discrete spectra consist of $N$ geometric series are analyzed. In the h…
We consider the optimal approximation of certain quantum states of a harmonic oscillator with the superposition of a finite number of coherent states in phase space placed either on an ellipse or on a certain lattice. These scenarios are currently experimentally feasible. The parameters of the ellipse and the lattice and the coefficients of the constituent coherent states are optimized numerically, via a genetic algorithm, in order to obtain the best approximation. It is found that for certain quantum states the obtained approximation is better than the ones known from the literature thus far.
