Double Feature: Creating optical Schrödinger‐cat states with a cavity (Bastian Hacker)

  • Date: Nov 13, 2018
  • Time: 02:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
  • Speaker: Bastian Hacker, M. Sc.
  • Quantum Dynamics Division, MPQ
  • Location: Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik
  • Room: Hörsaal, Raum B 0.32 / New lecture hall, Room B 0.32
  • Host: MPQ, Quantum Dynamics Division
Schrödinger's famous cat Gedankenexperiment investigates how the laws of quantum mechanics extend into the macroscopic realm. An experimentally accessible model system in quantum optics is the superposition of two well-distinguishable coherent states - a so-called "cat state" - with a tunable degree of macroscopicity. Applying a high-finesse cavity we demonstrate a new method to create flying optical cat states. They are entangled to a single trapped atom, much like Schrödinger's original cat. I show control over various degrees of freedom of the cat states, which is a great asset for their potential application to continuous-variable quantum computing.
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