Generation and phase-space characterization of coherent states of light excited by a single photon

Bellini M., Zavatta A., Viciani S.

Marco Bellini, Alessandro Zavatta, Silvia Viciani

A new class of non-classical light states has been experimentally generated and their complete phase-space characterization has been achieved by quantum homodyne tomography. Such states are produced by the action of the photon creation operator on a coherent light field and are thus the result of the elementary excitation process of a classical field by a single quantum. Being intermediate between a single-photon Fock state and a coherent one, they offer the unique opportunity to closely follow the smooth evolution between the particle-like and the wave-like behavior of the light field.

Marco Bellini, Alessandro Zavatta, Silvia Viciani

We present the experimental generation of a new class of non-classical light states and their complete phase-space characterization by quantum homodyne tomography. These states are the result of the most elementary amplification process of classical light fields by a single quantum of excitation and can be generated by the process of stimulated emission of a single photon in the mode of a coherent state. Being intermediate between a single-photon Fock state and a coherent one, they offer the unique opportunity to closely follow the smooth evolution between the particle-like and the wave-like behavior of the light field and to witness the gradual change from the spontaneous to the stimulated regimes of light emission.

Zavatta A., Viciani S., Bellini M.

Bellini M., Zavatta A., Viciani S.

A new class of non-classical light states has been experimentally generated and their complete phase-space characterization has been achieved by quantum homodyne tomography. Such states are produced by the action of the photon creation operator on a coherent light eld and are thus the result of the elementary excitation process of a classical eld by a single quantum. Being intermediate between a single-photon Fock state and a coherent one, they o er the unique opportunity to closely follow the smooth evolution between the particle-like and the wave-like behavior of the light eld.

Petr Steindl, Henk Snijders, G. Westra +9 more