Abstract
The two modes of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen quadrature entangled state generated by parametric down-conversion interfere on a beam splitter of variable splitting ratio. Detection of a photon in one of the beam splitter output channels heralds preparation of a signal state in the other, which is characterized using homodyne tomography. By controlling the beam splitting ratio, the signal state can be chosen anywhere between the single-photon and squeezed state.
Highlights
Nonclassical states of light present an important tool in testing fundamental quantum physics and quantum information processing
In this paper we report an experiment that demonstrates the connection between the discrete and continuous domains of quantum optics very explicitly
For the θ = 22.5◦ (R = 0.5) case, the observed density matrix approximates that of a superposition of the vacuum and two-photon states, and the corresponding Wigner function exhibits squeezing of the momentum quadrature
Summary
Nonclassical states of light present an important tool in testing fundamental quantum physics and quantum information processing. Among the most basic quantum optical states are the squeezed-vacuum states that exhibit reduced quadrature noise at certain phases, and the photon number states (Fock states) with a well-defined energy The former were among the first nonclassical states of light to be generated experimentally and are the basis for a variety of continuous-variable quantum information protocols [1]. Especially the single-photon state, are natural candidates for encoding quantum information in the discrete-variable representation (qubits) [2] Their Wigner functions show non-Gaussian characterisitics such as oscillations and negativities and are phase-independent [3, 4, 5]. By rotating the waveplate that determines the beam splitter reflectivity, we can choose the output to be the squeezed-vacuum or single-photon state, or anything in between
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