Experiments on entangled atom-cavity states:" Schrodinger cats" and other tests of quantum theory
S. Haroche, E. W. Hagley, C. Wunderlich, M. Brune, J. M. Raimond, J. Dreyer, Abdelhamid Maali, Xavier Maı̂tre, Gilles Nogues
Abstract
Various experiments on entangled atomcavity states in cavity QED will be presented. Rydberg atoms can be coupled to a superconducting cavity either resonantly by emitting and absorbing photons, or nonresonantly, by producing a macroscopic phase shift on a coherent field injected in the cavity (single atom dispersive index effect). By sending atoms one at a time across the cavity, it is possible to use these resonant and dispersive effects to entangle atoms with each other or with the cavity field.