Direct detection of quantum non-Gaussian light from a dispersively coupled single atom

Jitendra K. Verma, Lukáš Lachman, and Radim Filip

Department of Optics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

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Abstract

Many applications in quantum communication, sensing and computation need provably quantum non-Gaussian light. Recently such light, witnessed by a negative Wigner function, has been estimated using homodyne tomography from a single atom dispersively coupled to a high-finesse cavity. This opens an investigation of quantum non-Gaussian light for many experiments with atoms and solid-state emitters. However, at their early stage, an atom or emitter in a cavity system with different channels to the environment and additional noise are insufficient to produce negative Wigner functions. Moreover, homodyne detection is frequently challenging for such experiments. We analyse these issues and prove that such cavities can be used to emit quantum non-Gaussian light employing single-photon detection in the Hanbury Brown and Twiss configuration and quantum non-Gaussianity criteria suitable for this measurement. We investigate in detail cases of considerable cavity leakage when the negativity of the Wigner function disappears completely. Advantageously, quantum non-Gaussian light can be still conclusively proven for a large set of the cavity parameters at the cost of overall measurement time, even if noise is present.

The quantum non-Gaussianity confirms processes producing light beyond the mixtures of Gaussian states. It is essential for applications in quantum sensing, communication and computing. Therefore exposing the quantum non-Gaussianity in realistic physical platforms is an important step that stimulates quantum technologies. We analyze the capability of dispersive coupling of an atom and optical field inside a cavity to manifest the quantum non-Gaussian light directly detectable by simple photon detectors. This manifestation remains feasible even for cavities operating in the weak coupling regime, which does not allow detection of the negative Wigner function. This result extends substantially related technological platforms where the quantum non-Gaussianity is detectable.

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