Quantum and Semiclassical Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B

Double-slit experiments with correlated atom - photon states

Tilman Pfau, Christian Kurtsiefer, J. Mlynek

Published Jun 1, 1996• 8 citations

Abstract

We report on an improved version of Young's double-slit experiment for thermal atoms, that allows two-particle correlation experiments to be performed with atom - photon pairs. We propose the use of single-photon scattering for the controlled preparation of highly entangled states of more than two particles. The principle is discussed for an entangled atom - photon pair, which offers the possibility of realizing a virtual double-slit experiment for atoms. Then the scheme is extended in an obvious way to prepare a so-called GHZ state made up of two photons and one atom. In general, highly entangled states can be built up involving the centre-of-mass wavefunction of an atom and the occupation of radiation modes by sequentially scattered photons.

DOI: 10.1088/1355-5111/8/3/026

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