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Quantum control of atomic systems by time resolved homodyne detection

Holger Friedrich Hofmann, G. Mahler, Ortwin G. Hess

Published Jul 23, 1997• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

We investigate the properties of ideal projective balanced homodyne detection measurements on low intensity light fields emitted by individual atomic systems during short time intervals. A model for time resolved photon emissions based on Wigner-Weisskopf theory is used to describe the emission process. The back- action of this emission process is analytically described as a quantum diffusion of the Bloch vector. It is shown that the evolution of the atomic wavefunction can be controlled completely using the results of homodyne detection. This allows the stabilization of a known quantum state or the creation of coherent states by a feedback mechanism. However, the feedback mechanism can never compensate the dissipative effects of quantum fluctuations even though the coherent state of the system is known at all times.

Related papers

Quantum control of atomic systems by homodyne detection and feedback

Holger Friedrich Hofmann, Günter Mahler A, Ortwin G. Hess

We investigate the possibilities of preserving and manipulating the coherence of atomic two-level systems by ideal projective homodyne detection and feedback. For this purpose, the photon emission process is described on time scales much shorter than the lifetime of the excited state using a model based on Wigner-Weisskopf theory. The backaction of this emission process is analytically described as a quantum diffusion of the Bloch vector. It is shown that the evolution of the atomic wave function can be controlled completely using the results of homodyne detection. This allows the stabilization of a known quantum state or the creation of coherent states by a feedback mechanism. However, the feedback mechanism can never compensate the dissipative effects of quantum fluctuations even though the coherent state of the system is known at all times.

arXiv:quant-ph/9707046•Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1998•58 citations

Quantum control by compensation of quantum fluctuations

Holger Friedrich Hofmann, Ortwin G. Hess, Günter Mahler A

We show that the influence of quantum fluctuations in the electromagnetic field vacuum on a two level atom can be measured and consequently compensated by balanced homodyne detection and a coherent feedback field. This compensation suppresses the decoherence associated with spontaneous emissions for a specific state of the atomic system allowing complete control of the coherent state of the system.

arXiv:quant-ph/9708031•Optics Express•Apr 27, 1998•18 citations

Non-Markovian homodyne-mediated feedback on a two-level atom: a quantum trajectory treatment

Jin Wang, Howard M. Wiseman, Gerard J Milburn

Quantum feedback can stabilize a two-level atom against decoherence (spontaneous emission), putting it into an arbitrary (specified) pure state. This requires perfect homodyne detection of the atomic emission, and instantaneous feedback. Inefficient detection was considered previously by two of us. Here we allow for a non-zero delay time $\\tau$ in the feedback circuit. Because a two-level atom is a nonlinear optical system, an analytical solution is not possible. However, quantum trajectories allow a simple numerical simulation of the resulting non-Markovian process. We find the effect of the time delay to be qualitatively similar to that of inefficient detection. The solution of the non-Markovian quantum trajectory will not remain fixed, so that the time-averaged state will be mixed, not pure. In the case where one tries to stabilize the atom in the excited state, an approximate analytical solution to the quantum trajectory is possible. The result, that the purity ($P=2{\\rm Tr}[\\rho^{2}]-1$) of the average state is given by $P=1-4\\gamma\\tau$ (where $\\gamma$ is the spontaneous emission rate) is found to agree very well with the numerical results.

•Nov 17, 2000•14 citations

Homodyne Detection of Temporally Resolved Quantum States

Owen Sandner, Brendan Mackey, Yuyang Liu +2 more

We present an analysis of the time domain measurement of temporally resolvable quantum states using balanced homodyne detection. Our approach outlines a formalism of detecting quantum states in arbitrary temporal modes via projection of the temporal mode onto a natural detector basis. We then present an algorithm for simulating the resultant photocurrent of continuous homodyne detection in the presence of a temporally resolved mode, and use this algorithm to explore the effects of realistic measurement errors on marginal reconstruction and quantum state tomography. A complete implementation of the method is provided through open source code on a GitHub repository.

quant-pharXiv:2602.13946•Feb 17, 2026•0 citations

Mapping quantum state dynamics in spontaneous emission

Mahdi Naghiloo, Neda Foroozani, D. Tan +2 more

The evolution of a quantum state undergoing radiative decay depends on how its emission is detected. If the emission is detected in the form of energy quanta, the evolution is characterized by a quantum jump to a lower energy state. In contrast, detection of the wave nature of the emitted radiation leads to different dynamics. Here, we investigate the diffusive dynamics of a superconducting artificial atom under continuous homodyne detection of its spontaneous emission. Using quantum state tomography, we characterize the correlation between the detected homodyne signal and the emitter's state, and map out the conditional back-action of homodyne measurement. By tracking the diffusive quantum trajectories of the state as it decays, we characterize selective stochastic excitation induced by the choice of measurement basis. Our results demonstrate dramatic differences from the quantum jump evolution associated with photodetection and highlight how continuous field detection can be harnessed to control quantum evolution.

arXiv:1512.02307•Nature Communications•May 11, 2016•42 citations

Quantum Coherent and Measurement Feedback Control Based on Atoms Coupled with a Semi-infinite Waveguide

Haijin Ding, Nina H. Amini, Guofeng Zhang +1 more

Abstract. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of quantum feedback control in creating desired states for atomic and photonic systems utilizing a semi-infinite waveguide coupled with multiple two-level atoms. In this approach, an initially excited atom can emit one photon into the waveguide, and the photon can be reflected by either the terminal mirror of the waveguide or other atoms, establishing various feedback loops through the coherent interactions between the atom and photon. When there are no more than two excitations in the waveguide quantum electrodynamics (QED) system, the evolution of quantum states can be effectively elucidated through the lens of random graph theory. However, this process is influenced by the environment. We propose that the environment-induced dynamics in the coherent feedback loop can be eliminated by measurement-based feedback control or coherent drives. Consequently, in the atom-waveguide interactions in open quantum systems, measurement-based feedback has the potential to modulate the quantum steady states. Additionally, the homodyne detection noise during the measurement process can induce errors upon quantum states, which can be influenced by the coherent feedback parameter designs.

arXiv:2307.16876•SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization•Jan 27, 2025•2 citations
We investigate the properties of ideal projective balanced homodyne detection measurements on low intensity light fields emitted by individual atomic systems during short time intervals. A model for time resolved photon emissions based on Wigner-Weisskopf theory is used to describe the emission process. The back- action of this emission process is analytically described as a quantum diffusion of the Bloch vector. It is shown that the evolution of the atomic wavefunction can be controlled completely using the results of homodyne detection. This allows the stabilization of a known quantum state or the creation of coherent states by a feedback mechanism. However, the feedback mechanism can never compensate the dissipative effects of quantum fluctuations even though the coherent state of the system is known at all times.
We investigate the possibilities of preserving and manipulating the coherence of atomic two-level systems by ideal projective homodyne detection and feedback. For this purpose, the photon emission process is described on time scales much shorter than the lifetime of the excited state using a model based on Wigner-Weisskopf theory. The backaction of this emission process is analytically described as a quantum diffusion of the Bloch vector. It is shown that the evolution of the atomic wave function can be controlled completely using the results of homodyne detection. This allows the stabilization of a known quantum state or the creation of coherent states by a feedback mechanism. However, the feedback mechanism can never compensate the dissipative effects of quantum fluctuations even though the coherent state of the system is known at all times.
Quantum feedback can stabilize a two-level atom against decoherence (spontaneous emission), putting it into an arbitrary (specified) pure state. This requires perfect homodyne detection of the atomic emission, and instantaneous feedback. Inefficient detection was considered previously by two of us. Here we allow for a non-zero delay time tau\\tautau in the feedback circuit. Because a two-level atom is a nonlinear optical system, an analytical solution is not possible. However, quantum trajectories allow a simple numerical simulation of the resulting non-Markovian process. We find the effect of the time delay to be qualitatively similar to that of inefficient detection. The solution of the non-Markovian quantum trajectory will not remain fixed, so that the time-averaged state will be mixed, not pure. In the case where one tries to stabilize the atom in the excited state, an approximate analytical solution to the quantum trajectory is possible. The result, that the purity (P=2rmTr[rho2]−1P=2{\\rm Tr}[\\rho^{2}]-1P=2rmTr[rho2]−1) of the average state is given by P=1−4gammatauP=1-4\\gamma\\tauP=1−4gammatau (where gamma\\gammagamma is the spontaneous emission rate) is found to agree very well with the numerical results.
We present an analysis of the time domain measurement of temporally resolvable quantum states using balanced homodyne detection. Our approach outlines a formalism of detecting quantum states in arbitrary temporal modes via projection of the temporal mode onto a natural detector basis. We then present an algorithm for simulating the resultant photocurrent of continuous homodyne detection in the presence of a temporally resolved mode, and use this algorithm to explore the effects of realistic measurement errors on marginal reconstruction and quantum state tomography. A complete implementation of the method is provided through open source code on a GitHub repository.
The evolution of a quantum state undergoing radiative decay depends on how its emission is detected. If the emission is detected in the form of energy quanta, the evolution is characterized by a quantum jump to a lower energy state. In contrast, detection of the wave nature of the emitted radiation leads to different dynamics. Here, we investigate the diffusive dynamics of a superconducting artificial atom under continuous homodyne detection of its spontaneous emission. Using quantum state tomography, we characterize the correlation between the detected homodyne signal and the emitter's state, and map out the conditional back-action of homodyne measurement. By tracking the diffusive quantum trajectories of the state as it decays, we characterize selective stochastic excitation induced by the choice of measurement basis. Our results demonstrate dramatic differences from the quantum jump evolution associated with photodetection and highlight how continuous field detection can be harnessed to control quantum evolution.
Abstract. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of quantum feedback control in creating desired states for atomic and photonic systems utilizing a semi-infinite waveguide coupled with multiple two-level atoms. In this approach, an initially excited atom can emit one photon into the waveguide, and the photon can be reflected by either the terminal mirror of the waveguide or other atoms, establishing various feedback loops through the coherent interactions between the atom and photon. When there are no more than two excitations in the waveguide quantum electrodynamics (QED) system, the evolution of quantum states can be effectively elucidated through the lens of random graph theory. However, this process is influenced by the environment. We propose that the environment-induced dynamics in the coherent feedback loop can be eliminated by measurement-based feedback control or coherent drives. Consequently, in the atom-waveguide interactions in open quantum systems, measurement-based feedback has the potential to modulate the quantum steady states. Additionally, the homodyne detection noise during the measurement process can induce errors upon quantum states, which can be influenced by the coherent feedback parameter designs.