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Progressive field-state collapse and quantum non-demolition photon counting

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  • Christine Guerlin

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Julien Bernu

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Samuel Deléglise

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Clément Sayrin

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Sébastien Gleyzes

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Stefan Kuhr

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
    Present address: Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Institut für Physik, Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz, Germany.)

  • Michel Brune

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Jean-Michel Raimond

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

  • Serge Haroche

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
    Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France)

Abstract

The irreversible evolution of a microscopic system under measurement is a central feature of quantum theory. From an initial state generally exhibiting quantum uncertainty in the measured observable, the system is projected into a state in which this observable becomes precisely known. Its value is random, with a probability determined by the initial system’s state. The evolution induced by measurement (known as ‘state collapse’) can be progressive, accumulating the effects of elementary state changes. Here we report the observation of such a step-by-step collapse by non-destructively measuring the photon number of a field stored in a cavity. Atoms behaving as microscopic clocks cross the cavity successively. By measuring the light-induced alterations of the clock rate, information is progressively extracted, until the initially uncertain photon number converges to an integer. The suppression of the photon number spread is demonstrated by correlations between repeated measurements. The procedure illustrates all the postulates of quantum measurement (state collapse, statistical results and repeatability) and should facilitate studies of non-classical fields trapped in cavities.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Guerlin & Julien Bernu & Samuel Deléglise & Clément Sayrin & Sébastien Gleyzes & Stefan Kuhr & Michel Brune & Jean-Michel Raimond & Serge Haroche, 2007. "Progressive field-state collapse and quantum non-demolition photon counting," Nature, Nature, vol. 448(7156), pages 889-893, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:448:y:2007:i:7156:d:10.1038_nature06057
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06057
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    Cited by:

    1. Benoist, Tristan & Fatras, Jan-Luka & Pellegrini, Clément, 2023. "Limit theorems for quantum trajectories," Stochastic Processes and their Applications, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 288-310.
    2. Ünsal Özdilek, 2024. "Art-Rent Concept and Measure With Connections to an Evolving Economy," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1625-1649, March.

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