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Updated: May 7, 2026
09:23
Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
Controlling photons in a box and exploring the quantum to classical boundary (Nobel Lecture)
1Laboratoire Kastler Brossel de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure & Collège de France, Paris (France).
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|September 17, 2013
Summary
Researchers used a superconducting cavity to trap microwave photons, enabling experiments in quantum optics and quantum information processing. This work demonstrated non-destructive photon counting and quantum gate realization.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
- Quantum Information Processing
Background:
- Superconducting cavities enable realization of quantum physics thought experiments.
- Rydberg atoms interacting with trapped photons illustrate measurement theory.
Purpose of the Study:
- Demonstrate fundamental aspects of quantum physics using a "photon box" system.
- Explore quantum information processing capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a superconducting cavity to trap microwave photons.
- Interacting trapped photons with Rydberg atoms.
- Performing non-destructive photon counting and quantum state preparation.
Main Results:
- Achieved non-destructive photon counting and recorded field quantum jumps.
- Prepared and reconstructed "Schrödinger cat" states and studied decoherence.
- Demonstrated deterministic atom entanglement and realized quantum gates.
Conclusions:
- Experiments provide striking illustration of quantum-to-classical transition.
- Work represents basic steps in quantum information processing.
- Compares ENS photon box research with other single quantum particle control efforts.
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