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arXiv:0905.0560 · Physical Review A

Wigner-function theory and decoherence of the quantum-injected optical parametric amplifier

Nicolò Spagnolo, Chiara Vitelli, Tiziano De Angelis, Fabio Sciarrino, F. De Martini

Published Sep 17, 2009• 38 citations
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Abstract

Recent experimental results demonstrated the generation of a macroscopic quantum superposition (MQS), involving a number of photons in excess of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$, which showed a high resilience to losses. In order to perform a complete analysis on the effects of decoherence on these multiphoton fields, obtained through the quantum injected optical parametric amplifier, we investigate theoretically the evolution of the Wigner functions associated to these states in lossy conditions. Recognizing the presence of negative regions in the $W$ representation as an evidence of nonclassicality, we focus our analysis on this feature. A close comparison with the MQS based on coherent $|\ensuremath{\alpha}⟩$ states allows us to identify differences and analogies.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.80.032318

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Recent experimental results demonstrated the generation of a macroscopic quantum superposition (MQS), involving a number of photons in excess of 5\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1045\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}5\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi104, which showed a high resilience to losses. In order to perform a complete analysis on the effects of decoherence on these multiphoton fields, obtained through the quantum injected optical parametric amplifier, we investigate theoretically the evolution of the Wigner functions associated to these states in lossy conditions. Recognizing the presence of negative regions in the WWW representation as an evidence of nonclassicality, we focus our analysis on this feature. A close comparison with the MQS based on coherent ∣\ensuremathα⟩|\ensuremath{\alpha}⟩∣\ensuremathα⟩ states allows us to identify differences and analogies.
The high resilience to decoherence shown by a recently discovered macroscopic quantum superposition (MQS) generated by a quantum-injected optical parametric amplifier and involving a number of photons in excess of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ motivates the present theoretical and numerical investigation. The results are analyzed in comparison with the properties of the MQS based on $|\ensuremath{\alpha}⟩$ and N-photon maximally entangled states (NOON), in the perspective of the comprehensive theory of the subject by Zurek. In that perspective the concepts of ``pointer state'' and ``environment-induced superselection'' are applied to the new scheme.
The high resilience to de-coherence shown by a recently discovered Macroscopic Quantum Superposition (MQS) involving a number of photons in excess of 5 x 10^4 motivates the present theoretical and numerical investigation. The results are placed in close comparison with the properties of the well known MQS based on |alpha> states. The very critical decoherence properties of the latter MQS are found to be fully accounted for, in a direct a simple way, by a unique "universal" function: indeed a new property of the quantum "coherent states".
The new process of quantum-injection into an optical parametric amplifier operating in entangled configuration is adopted to amplify into a large dimensionality spin 1/2 Hilbert space the quantum entanglement and superposition properties of the photon-couples generated by parametric down-conversion. The structure of the Wigner function and of the field's correlation functions shows a decoherence-free, multiphoton Schroedinger-cat behaviour of the emitted field which is largely detectable against the squeezed-vacuum noise. Furthermore, owing to its entanglement character, the system is found to exhibit multi-particle quantum nonseparability and Bell-type nonlocality properties. These relevant quantum features are analyzed for several travelling-wave optical configurations implying different input quantum-injection schemes
The new process of quantum injection into an optical parametric amplifier operating in entangled configuration is adopted to ``amplify'' into a large dimensionality spin- 12\frac{1}{2}21​ Hilbert space the quantum entanglement and superposition properties of the photon couples generated by parametric down-conversion. The structure of the Wigner function and of the field's correlation functions shows a decoherence-free multiphoton Schroedinger-cat behavior of the emitted field which is largely detectable against the squeezed-vacuum noise.
The new process of quantum-injection into an optical parametric amplifier operating in entangled configuration is adopted to amplify into a large dimensionality spin-½ Hilbert space the quantum entanglement and superposition properties of the photon-couples generated by parametric down-conversion. The invariance properties of the OPA interaction hamiltonian show that, under certain conditions, the device may act as a Universal Quantum Cloning Machine (UQCM) of the input qubits. Preliminary results here reported show the first experimental realization of such a device. The structure of the Wigner function and of the field's correlation functions shows a multiphoton Schrödinger-cat behaviour of the emitted field which is largely detectable against the squeezed-vacuum noise.
This work reports on an extended research endeavor focused on the theoretical and experimental realization of a macroscopic quantum superposition (MQS) made up of photons. This intriguing, fundamental quantum condition is at the core of a famous argument conceived by Schr\"odinger in 1935. The main experimental challenge to the actual realization of this object resides generally in unavoidable and uncontrolled interactions with the environment, i.e., ``decoherence,'' leading to the cancellation of any evidence of the quantum features associated with the macroscopic system. The present scheme is based on a nonlinear process, ``quantum-injected optical parametric amplification,''which, by a linearized cloning process maps the quantum coherence of a single-particle state, i.e., a microqubit, onto a macroqubit consisting of a large number MMM of photons in quantum superposition. Since the adopted scheme was found resilient to decoherence, a MQS demonstration was carried out experimentally at room temperature with $M\ensuremath{\ge}{10}^{4}$. The result led to an extended study of quantum cloning, quantum amplification, and quantum decoherence. The related theory is outlined and several experiments are reviewed, such as the test of the ``no-signaling theorem'' and the dynamical interaction of the photon MQS with a Bose-Einstein condensate. In addition, the consideration of the microqubit-macroqubit entanglement regime is extended to macroqubit-macroqubit conditions. The MQS interference patterns for large MMM are revealed in the experiment and bipartite microqubit-macroqubit entanglement was also demonstrated for a limited number of generated particles: $M\ensuremath{\precsim}12$. Finally, the perspectives opened by this new method for further studies on quantum foundations and quantum measurement are considered.