Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2511.03204 · Physical Review A

Application and quantum properties of superpositions of oppositely squeezed states

Hiroo Azuma, William J. Munro, Kae Nemoto

quant-phSubmitted Nov 5, 2025• Announced Nov 6, 2025• 0 citations• Revised Jun 18, 2026 (v2)
v1 · Nov 5, 2025v2 · Jun 18, 2026
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We show that superpositions of oppositely squeezed states -- non-Gaussian Schr{ö}dinger-cat-like states -- exhibit enhanced nonclassical features and provide an entanglement advantage in the small-squeezing regime. These states possess photon-number structures distinct from conventional coherent-state cat states, and we analyze their Wigner functions and the entanglement generated when they are injected into a 50-50 beam splitter. As a practical application, we demonstrate that they enable a high-quality heralded single-photon source whose second-order intensity correlation function is smaller than that obtained from a pure two-mode squeezed vacuum state. We further propose a linear-optical heralding scheme that approximates these superpositions without requiring strong Kerr nonlinearities. Our results indicate that the superposition of oppositely squeezed states is a promising non-Gaussian resource for quantum information processing, particularly for single-photon generation.

Journal reference
Phys. Rev. A 113, 063728 (2026)
DOI
10.1103/dhq3-wcd7
Comments
7 pages, 5 figures, revtex; v2: Two new sections are added

Related papers

Heralded single-photon source based on superpositions of squeezed states

Hiroo Azuma, William J. Munro, Kae Nemoto

We propose a heralded single-photon source based on injecting a superposition of oppositely squeezed states onto a beam splitter. Our superposition of squeezed states is composed of only even photon number states (the number of photons is equal to $2,6,10,...$) meaning the probability for an emitted single photon given as a heralded single-photon event is higher than what one can achieve from the usual two-mode squeezed state. This enables one to realize an enhanced heralded single-photon source. We discuss how to create this superposition of squeezed states utilizing a single-mode squeezed state and the cross-Kerr nonlinearity. Our proposed method significantly improves the probability of emitting the heralded single photon compared to spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

arXiv:2402.17118•Physical Review A•May 15, 2024•9 citations

Multiphoton heralding generates large-amplitude squeezed Schrödinger cat states and parity-selective Fock superpositions from squeezed vacuum via an OPA

Yusuf Turek, Ming-Yan Sun, Xiao-Xi Yao

We propose a multiphoton heralding scheme using an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) that converts squeezed vacuum into two families of non-Gaussian states: large-amplitude squeezed Schrödinger cat states and low-order parity-selective Fock superpositions. By injecting m photons into the idler port and detecting n photons at the output, effective high-order photon subtraction is realized in a single OPA device. The heralded states exhibit strong Wigner negativity and high phase-space complexity. Remarkably, under photon loss, the complexity remains substantial even after negativity vanishes, indicating a loss-resilient quantum resource. These states also surpass the Heisenberg limit in phase estimation. Our protocol establishes the OPA as a versatile platform for generating non-Gaussian states, with promising applications in loss-resilient quantum metrology and fault-tolerant quantum information processing.

quant-pharXiv:2605.23617•May 25, 2026•0 citations

Generation of heralded optical `Schroedinger cat' states by photon-addition

Yi-Ru Chen, Hsien-Yi Hsieh, Jingyu Ning +7 more

Optical "Schrödinger cat" states, the non-classical superposition of two quasi-classical coherent states, serve as a basis for gedanken experiments testing quantum physics on mesoscopic scales and are increasingly recognized as a resource for quantum information processing. Here, we report the first experimental realization of optical "Schrödinger cats" by adding a photon to a squeezed vacuum state, so far only photon-subtraction protocols have been realized. Photon-addition gives us the advantage of using heralded signal photons as experimental triggers, and we can generate "Schrödinger cats" at rates exceeding $8.5 \times 10^4$ counts per second; at least one order of magnitude higher than all previously reported realizations. Wigner distributions with pronounced negative parts are demonstrated at down to -8.89 dB squeezing, even when the initial squeezed vacuum input state has low purity. Benchmarking against such a degraded squeezed input state we report a maximum fidelity of more than 80% with a maximum cat amplitude of $|α| \approx 1.66$. Our experiment uses photon-addition from pairs, one of those photons is used for monitoring, giving us enhanced control; moreover the pair production rates are high and should allow for repeated application of photon-addition via repeat-stages.

arXiv:2306.13011•Jun 22, 2023•2 citations

Generation of heralded optical cat states by photon addition

Yi-Ru Chen, Hsien-Yi Hsieh, Jingyu Ning +7 more

Optical cat states, the nonclassical superposition of two quasi-classical coherent states, serve as a basis for gedankenexperiments testing quantum physics on mesoscopic scales and are increasingly recognized as a resource for quantum information processing. Here, we report the first experimental realization of optical cat states by adding a photon to a squeezed vacuum state; so far only photon-subtraction protocols have been realized. Photon addition gives us the advantage of using heralded signal photons as experimental triggers, and we can generate cat states at rates exceeding $2.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ counts per second. Our most highly squeezed vacuum input state shows \ensuremath{-}8.9 dB squeezing, but such squeezing entails some degradation---in this case, 15.1 dB antisqueezing. Even so, our approach enables us to synthesize a state with a maximum cat amplitude of $|\ensuremath{\alpha}|\ensuremath{\approx}1.77$ whose Wigner distribution still shows pronounced negative parts. Our experimental implementation with controlled photon addition demonstrates a powerful and robust building block for advanced quantum state engineering and shows that heralded photon addition can be controlled well and performed at high rates.

Physical Review A•Aug 1, 2024•37 citations

Nonclassicality and Phase Estimation of Hybrid Squeezed States

Mohammad Bohloul, Jia-Xin Peng, Mohamed Amazioug +2 more

Abstract We present a theoretical study on the generation and nonclassical properties of hybrid squeezed states (HSS), a class of engineered quantum states with enhanced quantum features. Using a modified beam splitter-Kerr medium scheme, we construct superpositions of squeezed vacuum and two-photon-added squeezed states, providing a flexible framework to generate and control hybrid quantum states. Nonclassicality is analysed via Mandel's $Q$ parameter, photon number distributions, probability distribution functions, and Wigner functions, revealing sub-Poissonian statistics, oscillatory photon distributions, and significant Wigner negativity. Phase-sensitivity analysis within a Mach-Zehnder interferometric framework demonstrates that HSS outperform conventional squeezed and photon-added squeezed states, achieving measurement precisions that exceed the standard quantum limit and approach the Heisenberg limit under optimal parameters. These results establish hybrid squeezed states as a powerful resource for quantum metrology, communication, and optical interferometry.

Chinese Physics B•Sep 11, 2026•0 citations

Enhancing nonclassical features in qubit superposed single-mode squeezed vacuum states

Quang Dat Tran

Abstract Recently, photon subtraction from the single-mode squeezed vacuum state (SVS) has been explored as a technique to enhance its squeezing strength (SS). Notably, the enhancement is observed only when an even number of photons is subtracted, and this effect is limited to a specific range of the squeezing parameter r. In this paper, we introduce a novel class of single-mode nonclassical states, termed as qubit superposed SVSs (qSSVSs), via the coherent superposition of a SVS and a single-photon-subtracted SVS. The primary objective of this work is to enhance the SS for any r > 0 through the creation of these superposed states. Our analysis reveals that the qSSVSs not only improve the SS but also exhibit enhanced nonclassical features such as the negativity of Wigner function, single-mode antibunching effect, photon-number distribution, and sub-Poissonian photon statistics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the qSSVSs provide superior phase sensitivity in a quantum Mach–Zehnder interferometer compared to the original SVS. Importantly, the generation of qSSVSs is feasible using readily available optical devices, including a beam splitter, a photodetector, and an amplitude displacement. These states hold significant potential for practical applications in quantum information science, particularly for tasks such as information encoding and processing in quantum computing systems.

Laser Physics Letters•Mar 6, 2025•1 citation
We show that superpositions of oppositely squeezed states -- non-Gaussian Schr{ö}dinger-cat-like states -- exhibit enhanced nonclassical features and provide an entanglement advantage in the small-squeezing regime. These states possess photon-number structures distinct from conventional coherent-state cat states, and we analyze their Wigner functions and the entanglement generated when they are injected into a 50-50 beam splitter. As a practical application, we demonstrate that they enable a high-quality heralded single-photon source whose second-order intensity correlation function is smaller than that obtained from a pure two-mode squeezed vacuum state. We further propose a linear-optical heralding scheme that approximates these superpositions without requiring strong Kerr nonlinearities. Our results indicate that the superposition of oppositely squeezed states is a promising non-Gaussian resource for quantum information processing, particularly for single-photon generation.
We propose a heralded single-photon source based on injecting a superposition of oppositely squeezed states onto a beam splitter. Our superposition of squeezed states is composed of only even photon number states (the number of photons is equal to 2,6,10,...2,6,10,...2,6,10,...) meaning the probability for an emitted single photon given as a heralded single-photon event is higher than what one can achieve from the usual two-mode squeezed state. This enables one to realize an enhanced heralded single-photon source. We discuss how to create this superposition of squeezed states utilizing a single-mode squeezed state and the cross-Kerr nonlinearity. Our proposed method significantly improves the probability of emitting the heralded single photon compared to spontaneous parametric down-conversion.
We propose a multiphoton heralding scheme using an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) that converts squeezed vacuum into two families of non-Gaussian states: large-amplitude squeezed Schrödinger cat states and low-order parity-selective Fock superpositions. By injecting m photons into the idler port and detecting n photons at the output, effective high-order photon subtraction is realized in a single OPA device. The heralded states exhibit strong Wigner negativity and high phase-space complexity. Remarkably, under photon loss, the complexity remains substantial even after negativity vanishes, indicating a loss-resilient quantum resource. These states also surpass the Heisenberg limit in phase estimation. Our protocol establishes the OPA as a versatile platform for generating non-Gaussian states, with promising applications in loss-resilient quantum metrology and fault-tolerant quantum information processing.
Optical "Schrödinger cat" states, the non-classical superposition of two quasi-classical coherent states, serve as a basis for gedanken experiments testing quantum physics on mesoscopic scales and are increasingly recognized as a resource for quantum information processing. Here, we report the first experimental realization of optical "Schrödinger cats" by adding a photon to a squeezed vacuum state, so far only photon-subtraction protocols have been realized. Photon-addition gives us the advantage of using heralded signal photons as experimental triggers, and we can generate "Schrödinger cats" at rates exceeding 8.5×1048.5 \times 10^48.5×104 counts per second; at least one order of magnitude higher than all previously reported realizations. Wigner distributions with pronounced negative parts are demonstrated at down to -8.89 dB squeezing, even when the initial squeezed vacuum input state has low purity. Benchmarking against such a degraded squeezed input state we report a maximum fidelity of more than 80% with a maximum cat amplitude of ∣α∣≈1.66|α| \approx 1.66∣α∣≈1.66. Our experiment uses photon-addition from pairs, one of those photons is used for monitoring, giving us enhanced control; moreover the pair production rates are high and should allow for repeated application of photon-addition via repeat-stages.
Optical cat states, the nonclassical superposition of two quasi-classical coherent states, serve as a basis for gedankenexperiments testing quantum physics on mesoscopic scales and are increasingly recognized as a resource for quantum information processing. Here, we report the first experimental realization of optical cat states by adding a photon to a squeezed vacuum state; so far only photon-subtraction protocols have been realized. Photon addition gives us the advantage of using heralded signal photons as experimental triggers, and we can generate cat states at rates exceeding $2.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ counts per second. Our most highly squeezed vacuum input state shows \ensuremath{-}8.9 dB squeezing, but such squeezing entails some degradation---in this case, 15.1 dB antisqueezing. Even so, our approach enables us to synthesize a state with a maximum cat amplitude of $|\ensuremath{\alpha}|\ensuremath{\approx}1.77$ whose Wigner distribution still shows pronounced negative parts. Our experimental implementation with controlled photon addition demonstrates a powerful and robust building block for advanced quantum state engineering and shows that heralded photon addition can be controlled well and performed at high rates.
Abstract We present a theoretical study on the generation and nonclassical properties of hybrid squeezed states (HSS), a class of engineered quantum states with enhanced quantum features. Using a modified beam splitter-Kerr medium scheme, we construct superpositions of squeezed vacuum and two-photon-added squeezed states, providing a flexible framework to generate and control hybrid quantum states. Nonclassicality is analysed via Mandel's QQQ parameter, photon number distributions, probability distribution functions, and Wigner functions, revealing sub-Poissonian statistics, oscillatory photon distributions, and significant Wigner negativity. Phase-sensitivity analysis within a Mach-Zehnder interferometric framework demonstrates that HSS outperform conventional squeezed and photon-added squeezed states, achieving measurement precisions that exceed the standard quantum limit and approach the Heisenberg limit under optimal parameters. These results establish hybrid squeezed states as a powerful resource for quantum metrology, communication, and optical interferometry.
Abstract Recently, photon subtraction from the single-mode squeezed vacuum state (SVS) has been explored as a technique to enhance its squeezing strength (SS). Notably, the enhancement is observed only when an even number of photons is subtracted, and this effect is limited to a specific range of the squeezing parameter r. In this paper, we introduce a novel class of single-mode nonclassical states, termed as qubit superposed SVSs (qSSVSs), via the coherent superposition of a SVS and a single-photon-subtracted SVS. The primary objective of this work is to enhance the SS for any r > 0 through the creation of these superposed states. Our analysis reveals that the qSSVSs not only improve the SS but also exhibit enhanced nonclassical features such as the negativity of Wigner function, single-mode antibunching effect, photon-number distribution, and sub-Poissonian photon statistics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the qSSVSs provide superior phase sensitivity in a quantum Mach–Zehnder interferometer compared to the original SVS. Importantly, the generation of qSSVSs is feasible using readily available optical devices, including a beam splitter, a photodetector, and an amplitude displacement. These states hold significant potential for practical applications in quantum information science, particularly for tasks such as information encoding and processing in quantum computing systems.