Abstract
We show that optical homodyne measurements of coherent states, and of superpositions of coherent states, can be described using the joint photon-number distribution for entangled coherent states. The quadrature-phase distribution interference fringes for superpositions of macroscopically distinct coherent states (the so-called ``Schr\"odinger cat states'') are shown to arise from interference in the photon-number distribution for entangled coherent states. The entangled squeezed states are introduced here as squeezed superposition states which are optically mixed with an antisqueezed coherent local oscillator field (squeezing in the other quadrature) at a beam splitter, and we discuss the connection between entangled squeezed states and squeezed-state homodyne detection of squeezed light. Finally the relationship between interference in phase space and fringes in the joint photon-number distribution for the entangled squeezed state is explored.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have