A general anaylsis of squeezing transformations for two-mode systems is given based on the four-dimensional real symplectic group Sp(4,openR). Within the framework of the unitary (metaplectic) representation of this group, a distinction between compact photon-number-conserving and noncompact photon-number-nonconserving squeezing transformations is made. We exploit the U(2) invariant squeezing criterion to divide the set of all squeezing transformations into a two-parameter family of distinct equivalence classes with representative elements chosen for each class. Familiar two-mode squeezing transformations in the literature are recognized in our framework and seen to form a set of measure zero. Examples of squeezed coherent and thermal states are worked out. The need to extend the heterodyne detection scheme to encompass all of U(2) is emphasized, and known experimental situations where all U(2) elements can be reproduced are briefly described.
A general anaylsis of squeezing transformations for two-mode systems is given based on the four-dimensional real symplectic group Sp(4,openR). Within the framework of the unitary (metaplectic) representation of this group, a distinction between compact photon-number-conserving and noncompact photon-number-nonconserving squeezing transformations is made. We exploit the U(2) invariant squeezing criterion to divide the set of all squeezing transformations into a two-parameter family of distinct equivalence classes with representative elements chosen for each class. Familiar two-mode squeezing transformations in the literature are recognized in our framework and seen to form a set of measure zero. Examples of squeezed coherent and thermal states are worked out. The need to extend the heterodyne detection scheme to encompass all of U(2) is emphasized, and known experimental situations where all U(2) elements can be reproduced are briefly described.
We present a complete analysis of variance matrices and quadrature squeezing for arbitrary states of quantum systems with any finite number of degrees of freedom. Basic to our analysis is the recognition of the crucial role played by the real symplectic group Sp(2n,openR) of linear canonical transformations on n pairs of canonical variables. We exploit the transformation properties of variance (noise) matrices under symplectic transformations to express the uncertainty-principle restrictions on a general variance matrix in several equivalent forms, each of which is manifestly symplectic invariant. These restrictions go beyond the classically adequate reality, symmetry, and positivity conditions. Towards developing a squeezing criterion for n-mode systems, we distinguish between photon-number-conserving passive linear optical systems and active ones. The former correspond to elements in the maximal compact U(n) subgroup of Sp(2n,openR), the latter to noncompact elements outside U(n). Based on this distinction, we motivate and state a U(n)-invariant squeezing criterion applicable to any state of an n-mode system, and explore alternative ways of expressing it. The set of all possible quantum-mechanical variance matrices is shown to contain several interesting subsets or subfamilies, whose definitions are related to the fact that a general variance matrix is not diagonalizable within U(n). Definitions, characterizations, and canonical forms for variance matrices in these subfamilies, as well as general ones, and their squeezing nature, are established. It is shown that all conceivable variance matrices can be generated through squeezed thermal states of the n-mode system and their symplectic transforms. Our formulas are developed in both the real and the complex forms for variance matrices, and ways to pass between them are given.
It is shown that the SU(1,1)-like and SU(2)-like two-photon coherent states can be combined to form a O(3,2)-like two-photon states. Since the O(3,2) group has many subgroups, there are also many new interesting new coherent and squeezed two-photon states. Among them is the two-photon sheared state whose symmetry property is like that for the two-dimensional Euclidean group. There are now two-phonon coherent states which may exhibit symmetries not yet observed for photons, including sheared states. Let us note that both SU(1,1) and S(3,2) are isomorphic to the symplectic groups Sp(2) and Sp(4) respectively, and that symplectic transformations consist of rotations and squeeze transformations.
Extending the scheme developed for a single mode of the electromagnetic field in the preceding paper [F. Dell'Anno, S. De Siena, and F. Illuminati, Phys. Rev. A 69, 033812 (2004)], we introduce two-mode nonlinear canonical transformations depending on two heterodyne mixing angles. They are defined in terms of Hermitian nonlinear functions that realize heterodyne superpositions of conjugate quadratures of bipartite systems. The canonical transformations diagonalize a class of Hamiltonians describing nondegenerate and degenerate multiphoton processes. We determine the coherent states associated with the canonical transformations, which generalize the nondegenerate two-photon squeezed states. Such heterodyne multiphoton squeezed states are defined as the simultaneous eigenstates of the transformed, coupled annihilation operators. They are generated by nonlinear unitary evolutions acting on two-mode squeezed states. They are non-Gaussian, highly nonclassical, entangled states. For a quadratic nonlinearity the heterodyne multiphoton squeezed states define two-mode cubic phase states. The statistical properties of these states can be widely adjusted by tuning the heterodyne mixing angles, the phases of the nonlinear couplings, as well as the strength of the nonlinearity. For quadratic nonlinearity, we study the higher-order contributions to the susceptibility in nonlinear media and we suggest possible experimental realizations of multiphoton conversion processes generating the cubic-phase heterodyne squeezed states.
It is shown that the basic symmetry of two-mode squeezed states is governed by the group Sp(4) in the Wigner phase space which is locally isomorphic to the (3+2)-dimensional Lorentz group. This symmetry, in the Schr\"odinger picture, appears as Dirac's two-oscillator representation of O(3,2). It is shown that the SU(2) and SU(1,1) interferometers exhibit the symmetry of this higher-dimensional Lorentz group. The mathematics of two-mode squeezed states is shown to be applicable to other branches of physics including thermally excited states in statistical mechanics and relativistic extended hadrons in the quark model.
It is known that the symmetry of two-mode squeezed states is governed by the group Sp(4) which is locally isomorphic to the O(3,2) de Sitter group. It is shown that this complicated ten-parameter group can be regarded as a product of two three-parameter Sp(2) groups. It is shown also that two coupled harmonic oscillators serve as a physical basis for the symmetry decomposition. It is shown further that the concept of entropy is needed when one of the two modes is not observed. The entropy is zero when the system is uncoupled. The system reaches thermal equilibrium when the entropy becomes maximal.
Starting from the symplectic Lie groups Sp (2 n , ) of an n -mode system in classical and quantum mechanics we discuss, in particular, Sp (2, )~ SO (2,1) for a single mode and Sp (4, )~ SO (3,2) with some of its important subgroups such as SU (1,1)~ Sp (2, ) and SU (2). We then look at their applications in quantum optics (squeezing, phase states, beamsplitter and polarization). We explicitly construct the root scheme of the Lie algebra sp (4, ) in two different bases as it is an important means for the investigation of the group properties and the construction of the irreducible representations. Apart from the well known realizations of Sp (2, ) by single-mode and two-mode systems, we discuss some other realizations of this group by fractal combinations of boson operators.