We study the phase properties of quantum superpositions of two coherent states (Schr"odinger-cat states) amplified by phase-sensitive (squeezed) amplifiers. We show that a phase-sensitive amplifier with a properly chosen phase can preserve the phase distribution of the Schr"odinger-cat-state input.
We study statistical properties of quantum superposition states (Schr\"odinger-cat states) amplified by phase-sensitive (squeezed) amplifiers. We show that the phase-sensitive amplifier with a properly chosen phase can preserve quantum coherences and nonclassical behavior of the Schr\"odinger-cat-state input even for a gain factor G larger than 2. In particular, we show that for an even coherent state (CS) phase-sensitive amplifiers can preserve squeezing for G>2 but simultaneously in the process of amplification the noise added by the amplifier leads to a rapid increase of fluctuations in the photon number. Because of the finite maximum degree of squeezing obtainable for the even CS the maximum gain factor Gm for which squeezing can still be observed in the output state is finite. The phase-sensitive amplifier with a properly chosen phase can also reduce fluctuations in the photon number of the initial even CS. Nevertheless, one cannot amplify the initial even CS with super-Poissonian photon statistics into the state with sub-Poissonian photon statistics.
We examine the nonclassical property of a Schr\"odinger cat state, i.e., a superposition of two coherent states, when it is amplified by either a phase-sensitive or a phase-insensitive amplifier. In both cases the corresponding P representation remains nonpositive in some area of the complex plane, for any amplification factor. The contribution to the P function from these areas decreases exponentially with an amplification factor. With a phase-sensitive amplifier the onset of decay can be postponed to a larger amplification factor. Thus the nonclassical nature of the field can be preserved under a wide range of conditions, in spite of the noise introduced in the amplification process. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
We study phase properties of quantum mechanical superposition states decaying into phase-sensitive reservoirs. We show that the Wigner phase quasiprobability distribution reflects the quantum interference effects very well while the Pegg–Barnett and the Husimi phase probability distributions are quite insensitive with respect to the character of the quantum interference between component states. We study in detail phase properties of the even coherent state which decays into the thermal and the squeezed reservoirs. In thermal reservoirs the phase of the superposition state becomes randomized under the influence of thermal fluctuations. The higher the number of thermal photons the faster the randomization process is. On the other hand we show that depending on the relative phase between the superposition state and the phase-sensitive reservoir the process of phase randomization can be either enhanced or completely suppressed.
We analyze statistical properties of multicomponent superpositions of coherent states of light amplified by quantum-mechanical amplifiers with reduced quantum fluctuations. We show that sub-Poissonian (i.e., amplitude-squeezed) amplifiers can transform any initial superposition of coherent states of light into a nonclassical state with a high degree of sub-Poissonian photon statistics. Simultaneously the shape of the photon-number distribution of the initial state of light is preserved but shifted toward higher photon numbers. On the other hand, we show that phase-sensitive (i.e., quadrature-squeezed) amplifiers may preserve the initial reduction of quadrature fluctuations (quadrature squeezing). We show that by using amplifiers with reduced quantum noise one can, in principle, control the influence of the noise transferred from the amplifier to the system.
Strong laser-atom interactions can produce highly non-classical states of light by using the process of high-harmonic generation in atoms. When the high-harmonic generation is present, the quantum state of the fundamental mode following the interaction is known as the Schrödinger cat state, which is a superposition of the laser's initial coherent state and the coherent state with a smaller amplitude that results from its interaction with atoms. Here, we demonstrate that new light states with significantly different Wigner function distributions can be produced by combining two separate Schrödinger cat states. Through the engineering of Schrödinger cat states' parameters, we are able to produce Wigner functions that exhibit high sensitivity in relation to the system parameter. Our research paves the way for the creation of non-classical light by superposing Schrödinger cat states with application in such as quantum sensing.