Two-mode Squeezed Pair Coherent States

Abstract

The properties of states generated by the application of the two-mode squeeze operator to the pair coherent states are studied. These states are the two-mode analogues of the single-mode squeezed states generated by the application of the single-mode squeeze operator to an ordinary coherent state. In the present case there are correlations between the modes and strong non-classical properties are to be expected. We study the statistical properties of the photon number distributions, squeezing, violations of the Cauchy-Schwartz inequality, quasiprobability distributions and the phase distributions.     

Generation of amplitude squeezed states of light from phase squeezed coherent states

Abstract

We propose a scheme to generate a displaced macroscopic superposition of phase squeezed coherent states by incorporating an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and a nonlinear Kerr medium in a Mach-Zhender interferometer configuration. We show that the phase squeezed coherent state generated by the OPO evolves into a macroscopic superposition of phase squeezed coherent states on spending a specific amount of time inside a Kerr medium. The phase space displacement is achieved by the interference of the intense reference beam with the signal in the final beam splitter of the interferometer. The noise of the reference beam contaminating the signal is prevented by making this beam splitter highly reflective. We have calculated the photon number uncertainty of the outcoming beam and have shown that it is smaller than the usual amplitude squeezed coherent state's value.     

Higher-generation Schrödinger cat states in cavity QED

Abstract

Higher-generation Schrödinger cat states of the quantized electromagnetic field can be produced in a high-Q cavity, starting from a coherent state, through the passage of prepared Rydberg atoms interacting dispersively across it. These states are natural generalizations of the even and odd coherent states, the N ^th-generations corresponding to specific superpositions of 2 ^N states on a circle in phase space with well defined parity, and present very peculiar properties. Their photon statistics interchange between super- and sub-Poissonian behaviours and the nature of the photon bunching oscillates as the field intensity in the cavity is varied. For higher-generation even states, the minimum value of the Mandel factor almost reaches ?1.0 and the state represents the Fock state |2 ^N ). Squeezing properties and the Wigner function of these higher-generation Schrödinger cat states are also considered.     

Quantum interference between an arbitrary-photon Fock state and a coherent state

Using the phase space method, we study the quantum interference through a Mach–Zehnder interferometer with an arbitrary-photon Fock state and a coherent state as two inputs. The statistical properties, in terms of the Wigner function, average photon number, photon number distribution and parity, are derived analytically for the field of the individual output port. These results indicate that the output state is actually a statistical mixture between a bunch of Fock state and coherent states. In addition, the phase sensitivity is also examined by using the detection scheme of intensity difference measurement.     

Effect of losses on phase noise

Abstract

We study the effect of losses on the phase noise of single-mode field states. The losses are described by the standard loss master equation, and it is used to find an upper bound for the increase in the phase noise as a function of time. We compare the time dependence of the phase noise of an initial coherent state to that of a state that initially has very small phase noise. Both states have the same initial mean photon number. While the small-phase noise state is more susceptible to losses, the difference between its behaviour and that of the coherent state is not great.     

Phase Resolution and Coherent Phase States

Abstract

Various measures of phase resolution (including variance, entropy, confidence half-width, and reciprocal peak likelihood) are reviewed, and applied to the class of coherent phase states. These states arise naturally as eigenstates of the Susskind-Glogower phase operator, and are found to have near-optimal phase resolution properties for fixed mean photon number [nbar]. The mutual information for a communication channel based on coherent phase states is calculated as log ([nbar] + 1), within 1·5 bits of the theoretical maximum for single-mode channels.     

Homodyne tomography of classical and non-classical light

Abstract

States with explicit quantum character, such as squeezed vacuum and bright squeezed light, as well as coherent states and incoherent superpositions of coherent states were generated and analysed by tomographical methods. Wigner functions, photon-number distributions, density matrices and phase distributions were reconstructed with high accuracy. Features such as photon number oscillations, sub-Poissonian and super-Poissonian photon statistics, bifurcations of the phase distribution, and loss of coherence were observed, demonstrating the usefulness of quantum state reconstruction as an analysing tool in quantum optics experiments.     

Accuracy of sampling quantum phase space in a photon counting experiment

Abstract

We study the accuracy of determining the phase space quasi-distribution of a single quantized light mode by a photon counting experiment. We derive an exact analytical formula for the error of the experimental outcome. This result provides an estimate of the experimental parameters, such as the number of events, required to determine the quasi-distribution with assumed precision. Our analysis also shows that it is, in general, not possible to compensate for the imperfection of the photodetector in the numerical processing of the experimental data. The discussion is illustrated with Monte Carlo simulations of the photon counting experiment for the coherent state, the one photon Fock state, and the Schrödinger cat state.     

Non-classical Properties of Two-mode SU(1, 1) Coherent States

Abstract

We examine the non-classical properties of two-mode coherent states based on different unitary irreducible representations of SU(1, 1). Such states are generated by the action of the two-mode squeezing operator on initial states of the field containing arbitrary numbers of photons in each of the two modes. If the initial state of the field is a two-mode vacuum state, the final state is of course the two-mode squeezed vacuum. An initial occupation generalizes the idea of a squeezed vacuum to the SU(1, 1) coherent states. We show that fields in such states have remarkable quantum properties such as sub-Poissonian statistics, violations of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, strong correlations in the photon number fluctuations and squeezing. Using information theory formalism, we show that these coherent states are less correlated than the usual two-mode squeezed vacuum. Moreover, we show that an initial coherent amplitude contribution, in a large amplitude limit, can result in the reduction of correlations between modes.     

Phase States and Their Statistical Properties

Abstract

We study the statistical properties of radiation in the single-mode phase states by evaluating the expression for the photon-counting distribution and its factorial moments. A detailed comparison has been made of the properties of phase states with those of coherent and chaotic states.     

Non-classical Properties of Even and Odd Coherent States

Abstract

We present a detailed discussion of even and odd coherent states defined as eigenstates of the single mode two-photon annihilation operator a ². We study the non-classical properties such as squeezing, higher-order squeezing, and photon antibunching. Also discussed are the various quantum quasiprobability distributions, namely the P function, which is shown to be highly singular, the Q function, and the Wigner, which can take on negative values for these states. Finally, we present a discussion of a possible mechanism for the generation of such states based on the competition between parametric amplification and the incoherent losses from two-photon resonant absorption.     

Wehrl's Entropy Dynamics in a Kerr-like Medium

Abstract

We report on the time evolution of the Wehrl entropy in a Kerr-like medium. We show that the Wehrl entropy gives a clear signature for the formation of finite superpositions of coherent states (cat-like states). In addition, the actual value of the Wehrl entropy at the time of a superposition formation gives the number of coherent components taking part in the superposition.     

Eavesdropping on practical quantum cryptography

Abstract

Practical implementations of quantum cryptography use attenuated laser pulses as the signal source rather than single photons. The channels used to transmit are also lossy. Here we give a simple derivation of two beamsplitting attacks on quantum cryptographic systems using laser pulses, either coherent or mixed states with any mean photon number. We also give a simple derivation of a photon-number splitting attack, the most advanced, both in terms of performance and technology required. We find bounds on the maximum disturbance for a given mean photon number and observed channel transmission efficiency for which a secret key can be distilled. We start by reviewing two incoherent attacks that can be used on single photon quantum cryptographic systems. These results are then adapted to systems that use laser pulses and lossy channels.     

Phase Properties of Squeezed Number States

Abstract

We have studied the phase properties of the squeezed number states by evaluating the expression for the phase probability distribution and the phase variance. In addition, the expression for the photon number distribution of the squeezed phase states has been evaluated.     

Interaction of Squeezed Light with Two-level Atoms

Abstract

We investigate some of the fundamental features of the interaction of squeezed light with two-level atoms in the framework of the Jaynes-Cummings model. We start our analysis by calculating the collapses and revivals of the atomic inversion. We discuss the degree of purity of the field (given by the entropy) and its disentanglement from the atomic source. The connection with the evolution of the Q-function is also made. We notice that contrary to the coherent state case, the field turns into a nearly pure (squeezed) state at the revival time as if the field was prepared in a coherent state. The field also becomes a superposition of squeezed states at half of the revival time, and this is confirmed by investigating the photon number distribution. The phase properties of the field are discussed using the Pegg-Barnett formalism.     

Reconstructing the Wavefunction in Quantum Optics

Abstract

The problem of reconstructing a wavefunction from probability distributions is re-examined in the context of whether a pure state vector of a single-mode optical field can be reconstructed from the photon number and phase probability distributions. An analytical solution is given for the case where the state of the mode is a superposition of a finite number of Fock states.     

Four-photon Coherent States

Abstract

We present a detailed discussion of a type of four-photon coherent state defined as right eigenstates of the operator â ⁴ where â is the usual annihilation operator. There are actually four sets of states that need to be considered, namely those containing as the lowest number states ¦0>, ¦1>, ¦2>, or ¦3>. These correspond to the possible unique superpositions of the ordinary coherent states ¦±α> and ¦±iα>. We discuss the nonclassical properties of these states such as photon antibunching and squeezing. The usual second order squeezing does not exist for these states but higher order squeezing and square field amplitude squeezing do exist. Also discussed are the quasiprobability distributions, namely the P-function, the Q-function and the Wigner function. Finally, a method of generating these states based on the competition between a four-photon parametric process and incoherent losses from four-photon absorption is presented.     

Properties of Squeezed Binomial States and Squeezed Negative Binomial States

Abstract

The effect of squeezing on binomial states and on negative binomial states is studied in terms of second-order correlation functions and quasi-probabilities of Wigner and Q-functions. The photon number distribution of these states is also discussed. The results presented for squeezed binomial (negative binomial) states may be useful for studying a transition from squeezed coherent states to squeezed number (quasi-thermal) states.     

The Statistical Properties of a Generalized Two-mode Squeezed Operator

Abstract

In this paper we have employed the generalized two-mode squeeze operator to discuss the effect of squeezing on two-mode coherent states, number states and thermal states. By using the Glauber second-order correlation function we examined the statistical properties of these various squeezed states. The statistical investigations are carried out for the quasi-probability distribution functions (Wigner function and Q function). The P representation is also considered.     

Quantum statistical properties of superposition of squeezed and displaced states with thermal noise

Abstract

The effect of thermal noise is studied on the statistical behaviour of the superposition of squeezed and displaced number states. In our analysis we have employed the s-parametrized characteristic function. For such superposition states exact expressions for quasiprobability distribution functions, normalized second-order correlation function, photon-number distribution and phase space distribution are obtained and discussed in detail.