We show how one can prepare and detect entanglement and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering between two distinguishable groups (modes) of atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) atom interferometer. Our paper extends previous work that developed criteria for two-mode entanglement and EPR steering based on the reduced variances of two spins defined in a plane. Observation of planar spin squeezing will imply entanglement, and sufficient planar spin squeezing implies EPR steering, between the two groups of atoms. By using a two-mode dynamical model to describe BEC interferometry experiments, we show that the two-mode entanglement and EPR steering criteria are predicted to be satisfied for realistic parameters. The reported observation of spin squeezing in these parameter regimes suggests it is very likely that the criteria can be used to infer an EPR steering between mesoscopic groups of atoms, provided the total atom number can be determined to sub-Poissonian uncertainty. The criteria also apply to a photonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Finally, we give a method based on the amount of planar spin squeezing to determine a lower bound on the number of particles that genuinely comprise the two-mode EPR steerable state---the so-called two-mode EPR steering depth.
Quantum entanglement and Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering are valuable resources in quantum information processing. How to enhance the quantum entanglement and EPR steering of coupled optomechanical systems with a weak squeezed vacuum field is studied when the displacement of detuning induced by the mechanical mode is considered. Compared with the condition that the system interacts with a vacuum environment, the quantum entanglement and EPR steering are stronger when the squeezed vacuum field is applied. A squeezed vacuum field with a large degree is not beneficial to enhance the quantum entanglement and EPR steering. Rather than the squeezing parameter of the squeezed vacuum field, the reference phase plays a vital role in this model.
Einstein–Podolski–Rosen (EPR) entanglement state is achievable by combining two single-mode position and momentum squeezed states at a 50:50 beam-splitter (BS). We investigate the generation of the EPR entangled state of two vibrating membranes in a ring resonator, where clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) travelling-wave modes are driven by lasers and finite-bandwidth squeezed lights. Since the optomechanical coupling depends on the location of the membranes, CW and CCW can couple to the symmetric and antisymmetric combination of mechanical modes for a suitable arrangement, which corresponds to a 50:50 BS mixing. Moreover, by employing the red-detuned driving laser and tuning the central frequency of squeezing field blue detuned from the driving laser with a mechanical frequency, the squeezing property of squeezed light can be perfectly transferred to the mechanical motion in the weak coupling regime. Thus, the BS mixing modes can be position and momentum squeezed by feeding the appropriate squeezed lights respectively, and the EPR entangled mechanical state is obtained. Moreover, cavity-induced mechanical cooling can further suppress the influence of thermal noise on the entangled state.