Unified approach to superposition states of the quantized radiation field

Summary In the recent years various and interesting superposition states of the quantized radiation field were investigated in the literature, such as that involving two number states by Wodkiewiczet al.; that involving two coherent states by Hillery and Gerryet al.; that involving two squeezed states by Xinet al., etc. Here we study a general one-parameter superposition state which unifies those states and others in the literature, all becoming a particularization of ours. General expressions characterizing the physical properties of the field are obtained. The role played by the present superposition state as an alternative interpolating state is also discussed. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.