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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
09:23
Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
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Large array of Schrödinger cat states facilitated by an optical waveguide
Wui Seng Leong1, Mingjie Xin1, Zilong Chen1
1Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637371, Singapore.
Nature Communications
|October 21, 2020
Summary
Researchers engineered quantum states of ~15000 atoms using photonic crystal fibers. This demonstrates coherent control of atomic motion in waveguides, advancing quantum information processing and simulation.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics and atomic physics
- Integrated quantum devices
Background:
- Photonic structures enable novel atom-photon interactions.
- Coherent excitation of atomic motional states in photonic waveguides remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate coherent excitation of atomic motional states within a photonic waveguide.
- To engineer quantum states of a large ensemble of atoms using guided light modes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the waveguide mode of a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber.
- Manipulated the mechanical Fock states of single atoms in a harmonic potential.
- Entangled electronic states with coherent harmonic oscillator states of atoms.
Main Results:
- Successfully created large arrays of Schrödinger cat states with approximately 15000 atoms.
- Demonstrated coherent control over atomic motion within the photonic waveguide.
- Established a method for entangling atomic electronic and motional states.
Conclusions:
- This work is a significant step towards quantum information processing and simulation using photonic waveguide systems.
- The demonstrated technique offers a new pathway for controlling quantum states of matter with light.
- Opens possibilities for developing advanced integrated quantum devices.
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