Abstract
This chapter discusses the quantum interference, superposition states of light and the nonclassical effects. The superposition principle is at the heart of quantum mechanics. The coherent state forms a position-momentum, phase-space patch of minimum area, and is the quantum analog of the classical point in phase space. The chapter discusses how quantum interference between coherent states results in nonclassical effects, and associates quantum coherences between coherent states with quantum interference in the phase space. Schrodinger's argument is based on stability and invariance of Gaussian wavepackets of an isolated quantum harmonic oscillator. The effect of coarsening is identical to the influence of reservoirs on quantum interference. The chapter describes several methods proposed for the generation of quantum-mechanical superposition states of light. The methods for the detection of schrodinger cats include homodyne detection, DAP-QND detection scheme and optical homodyne tomography method. These methods provide a complete quantum mechanical description of the measured mode and therefore, can be applied for characterization of quantum-mechanical superposition states, providing these fields are directly measureable.
Published Version
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