The linear and phase insensitive absorption of a single quanta via coherent interactions with a saturable system, even a single ground state qubit, is sufficient to deterministically generate quantum non-Gaussian states in an oscillator, even stimulated merely by increasing thermal oscillator energy. However, the resultant states only approach Fock states and therefore do not exhibit quantum coherence. Here we overcome this limitation using a minimal step: a nonlinear phase-insensitive absorption process added to the linear one. The coherent addition of such individually passive processes allows coherence to emerge and increase in phase space without an external drive and with minimal interaction requirements. The coherence of quantum non-Gaussian states emerges because the linear and nonlinear absorption processes are not mutually passive. In the simplest case rotationally symmetric Wigner functions of the oscillator Fock states convert their many negative regions to an extremely complex asymmetric structure in sharp contrast to the rotational symmetry of those obtained by the individual interactions. We extend this case to include an unsaturable absorber (oscillator) and analyse switching between linear and nonlinear absorptions, suitable for broad classes of experiments.
The linear and phase insensitive absorption of a single quanta via coherent interactions with a saturable system, even a single ground state qubit, is sufficient to deterministically generate quantum non-Gaussian states in an oscillator, even stimulated merely by increasing thermal oscillator energy. However, the resultant states only approach Fock states and therefore do not exhibit quantum coherence. Here we overcome this limitation using a minimal step: a nonlinear phase-insensitive absorption process added to the linear one. The coherent addition of such individually passive processes allows coherence to emerge and increase in phase space without an external drive and with minimal interaction requirements. The coherence of quantum non-Gaussian states emerges because the linear and nonlinear absorption processes are not mutually passive. In the simplest case rotationally symmetric Wigner functions of the oscillator Fock states convert their many negative regions to an extremely complex asymmetric structure in sharp contrast to the rotational symmetry of those obtained by the individual interactions. We extend this case to include an unsaturable absorber (oscillator) and analyse switching between linear and nonlinear absorptions, suitable for broad classes of experiments.
The ability of bosonic energy quanta to bunch together in an energy-conserving interaction is a fundamental feature of quantum harmonic oscillators. Linear systems together with measurement allow for the conditional concentration of energy quanta and, subsequently, breeding of the quantum states, but only with an exponentially decreasing success rate. Deterministic, energy-conserving and unconditional bunching however, requires nonlinearity. We investigate which nonlinear energy-conserving interactions deterministically combine bosons into high number states at the same frequency. We show that in order to do so it is advantageous to use nonlinear interactions involving highly saturable systems, such as qubits, as they preserve the hierarchical quantum non-Gaussian features and are also sufficiently robust against pure loss. Nonlinear bunching therefore demonstrates the advantage of a {\it qubit-inside} nonlinearity and opens new directions in the deterministic preparation, processing, and detection of quantum non-Gaussian states.
Driven-dissipative Kerr cavities serve as a versatile platform for generating nonclassical states, such as quantum cat states and high-photon-number Fock states, which are essential for quantum information processing. Building on the quantized Lugiato-Lefever equation (QLLE), which predicts steady-state coherent state superpositions in multi-mode Kerr resonators, and the framework for engineering Kerr nonlinearity ratios to mitigate spectral crowding in coupled oscillators, we propose an integrated approach for precise quantum control. By engineering the Kerr ratio K1/K2 to approximate an incommensurate value using complex rational approximations, we eliminate parasitic degeneracies and enable selective addressing of transitions in the QLLE steady state. Employing a Magnus expansion, we derive an effective Hamiltonian that incorporates Stark-shift corrections, facilitating deterministic synthesis of entangled cat states and Fock states with fidelities exceeding 99.9%. Numerical simulations using QuTiP validate robustness against dissipation and thermal noise, demonstrating quantum hysteresis and Wigner negativity in multi-mode configurations. This synthesis bridges dissipative phase transitions with architectural control, offering a blueprint for scalable bosonic quantum processors in circuit QED. The Wigner function plays a pivotal role in characterizing these nonclassical states, providing a phase-space representation that reveals quantum interference effects. In our framework, the emergence of negative values in the Wigner function for the central mode confirms the non-Gaussian nature of the cat states, as dictated by Hudson’s theorem, which states that only Gaussian pure states have non-negative Wigner functions everywhere [21]. This negativity arises from the interference term in the cat-state Wigner expression, quantifying macroscopic quantum coherence and serving as a witness for entanglement in multi-mode systems.For instance, our simulations at F = 2.0 yield a minimum Wigner value of approximately -0.006, highlighting the system’s departure from classical behavior and its utility for bosonic error correction, where cat codes leverage phase-space separation to suppress bit-flip errors exponentially with cat size. Furthermore, the relation to Wigner functions extends to dynamical properties: the steady-state Wigner negativity is robust against thermal noise due to the dissipative stabilization mechanism, aligning with results from driven Bose-Hubbard models where two-mode cat states maintain negativity under loss [46]. In the QLLE context, the multi-mode extension introduces spatial localization, where the Wigner function’s negative regions correspond to soliton-like structures, as evidenced by photon population distributions [0.33, 0.90, 0.33]. This negativity is not merely a feature but a consequence of fundamental limits on classical simulability, relating to the Gottesman-Knill theorem’s extension to continuous variables, where non-Gaussian operations are necessary for universal quantum computation. Quantum hysteresis, observed in our hysteresis plots, is intimately linked to the Wigner representation through the bifurcation dynamics. Near the codimension-2 point, the system’s bistability manifests as distinct paths in phase space, with Wigner functions switching between Gaussian-like (low-photon) and cat-like (high-photon) forms, supported by spectral theory of Liouvillians that guarantees metastable states in dissipative phase transitions [30]. The forward and backward sweeps in our simulations demonstrate this path dependence, with the Wigner negativity peaking in the high-drive regime, underscoring the role of Kerr nonlinearity in engineering quantum resources. Overall, the Wigner function’s negativity serves as a diagnostic tool for the efficacy of our engineered ratios, directly tying to experimental verifiability in circuit QED setups, where homodyne measurements can reconstruct Wigner distributions to confirm cat-state fidelity. This work not only advances control protocols but also highlights the profound interplay between phase-space quasi-probabilities and dissipative quantum engineering, paving the way for fault-tolerant bosonic qubits.
Bosonic systems with negative Wigner function superposition states are fundamentally witnessing nonlinear quantum dynamics beyond linearized systems and, recently, have become essential resources of quantum technology with many applications. Typically, they appear due to sophisticated combination of external drives, nonlinear control, measurements or strong nonlinear dissipation of subsystems to an environment. Here, we propose a conceptually different and more autonomous way to obtain such states, avoiding these ingredients, using purely sudden interaction decay in the paradigmatic interacting qubit-oscillator system weakly coupled to bath at thermal equilibrium in a low-temperature limit. We demonstrate simultaneously detectable unconditional negative Wigner function and quantum coherence and their qualitative enhancement employing more qubits.
The focus of the study is the free quantum evolution of Duffing oscillators which are nonlinearly coupled to bosonic environments. The work evolves from a particular system of an undamped, nonlinear graphene resonator mode to a more generalized framework of oscillator modes interacting with two different configurations of bosonic environments. In a model with no dissipation, the nonlinear Duffing oscillator allows an initial coherent state to evolve into a macroscopic superposition state, a Schrödinger Cat state. By further subjecting a Duffing mode to nonlinear damping, the parity conservation due to the two-quanta system-bath exchange, brings the system to a nonclassical steady state - an equilibrium state very much different from the ground state. The quantum features of this state are analysed for temperatures above zero and in a more realistic scenario where the interplay of linear and nonlinear decay is taken into account. The scope of the study is then extended to bipartite systems of nonlinear interacting oscillators, each nonlinearly coupled to a bosonic environment. The generation of entanglement in initially separable states and entanglement's asymptotic behaviour are investigated. One of the outcomes is the Duffing nonlinearity not affecting the entanglement asymptote. Therefore, finally a bipartite system of harmonic oscillators, with nonlinear system-bath coupling is initiated with entangled, squeezed states, and the asymptotic behaviour is evaluated in the parameter space of temperature, squeezing and dissipation rate. This is done for common and individual reservoir configurations, and either zero or non-zero inter-mode coupling.
Light-matter interactions that are nonlinear with respect to the photon number reveal the quantum nature of coherent states. We characterize how coherent states depart from Gaussian by the emergence of negative values in their Wigner function during the evolution while maintaining their characteristic Poissonian photon statistics. Such states have nonminimum uncertainty yet present a metrological advantage that can reach the Heisenberg limit. Non-Gaussianity of light arises as a general property of nonlinear interactions, which only requires a polarizable media, resonant or dispersive. Our results highlight how useful quantum features can be extracted from the seemingly most classical states of light, a relevant phenomenon for quantum optics applications.
Quantum state preparation is an essential ingredient in quantum information processing. In this letter, based on quantum coherent control induced by Bell measurement, non-Gaussian operations, namely adding (subtracting) one single photon to (from) Gaussian-like input signal field, has been implemented to generate a single-photon-added and -subtracted coherent (SPASC) superposition state. In order to carry out the coherent control, a specified conceptual experiment apparatus has been proposed. By adjusting beamsplitter reflectivity and parameter gain of χ(2) nonlinear crystal, the ingredients of this superposition state can be manipulated. With the help of quasi-probability distribution Wigner function, the evolution of non-classical properties with two controllable parameters can be visualized for this superposition state. The results show a quantum non-Gaussian superposition state can be generated by the measurement-induced coherent control scheme.