Local realism of macroscopic correlations

We identify conditions under which correlations resulting from quantum measurements performed on macroscopic systems (systems composed of a number of particles of the order of the Avogadro number) can be described by local realism. We argue that the emergence of local realism at the macroscopic level is caused by an interplay between the monogamous nature of quantum correlations and the fact that macroscopic measurements do not reveal properties of individual particles.     

Modified nonclassical coherent state: Squeezing,antibunching, sub-Poissonian photon statistics,realization scheme with the χ<Superscript>(2)</Superscript>-nonlinearity,and generation of a macroscopic entangled state

The nonlinear χ⁽²⁾ Mach-Zehnder interferometer is proposed as a device for conditional generation of a modified coherent nonclassical state. We show that the generated macroscopic state exhibits nonclassical effects, such as squeezing, photon antibunching, and sub-Poissonian statistics. The modified coherent state generates a macroscopic entangled state. The scheme works without the photon number resolving detection but requires high-efficiency photodetectors. We explain the mechanism of generation of the modified coherent non-classical state. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Superconductivity-induced macroscopic resonant tunneling

We show analytically and by numerical simulations that the conductance through pi-biased chaotic Josephson junctions is enhanced by several orders of magnitude in the short-wavelength regime. We identify the mechanism behind this effect as macroscopic resonant tunneling through a macroscopic number of low-energy quasidegenerate Andreev levels.     

Generation of macroscopic entangled states by means of x(2) nonlinearity without photon number resolving detection

We generalize the scheme of conditional preparation of x⁽²⁾ macroscopic entangled states [S.A. Podoshvedov, JETP 129 (2006)]. The studied system consists of a system of coupled down converters with type-I phase matching pumped simultaneously by powerful optical fields in coherent states with one auxiliary photon in the superposition state of two input modes and a projective measurement system. The projective measurement system involves two Hadamard gates introduced to generated output modes followed by photodetectors. Identification of macroscopic entangled states is produced by registration of one photon. No photon number resolving detection is required for the studied scheme. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

A simple scheme for conditional generation of macroscopic entangled states using χ nonlinearity

Experimental arrangement consisting of spontaneous parametric down converter with type-I phase matching (SPDCI) and a beam splitter with unitary Hadamard transformation is proposed for conditional preparation of macroscopic entangled states. The given method requires no photon number resolving detection to generate most probable macroscopic entangled state. We calculate the amount of entanglement stored in the macroscopic entangled states and develop a method to increase the amount of entanglement stored in the state.     

Robust entanglement through macroscopic quantum jumps

We propose an entanglement generation scheme that requires neither the coherent evolution of a quantum system nor the detection of single photons. Instead, the desired state is heralded by a macroscopic quantum jump. Macroscopic quantum jumps manifest themselves as a random telegraph signal with long intervals of intense fluorescence (light periods) interrupted by the complete absence of photons (dark periods). Here we show that a system of two atoms trapped inside an optical cavity can be designed such that a dark period prepares the atoms in a maximally entangled ground state. Achieving fidelities above 0.9 is possible even when the single-atom cooperativity parameter is as low as 10 and when using a photon detector with an efficiency as low as eta=0.2.     

Detection of macroscopic entanglement by correlation of local observables

We propose a correlation of local observables on many sites in macroscopic quantum systems. By measuring the correlation one can detect, if any, superposition of macroscopically distinct states, which we call macroscopic entanglement, in arbitrary quantum states that are (effectively) homogeneous. Using this property, we also propose an index of macroscopic entanglement.     

Quantum structures in macroscopic reality

We show that it is possible to construct macroscopic entities that entail a quantum logical structure. We do this by means of the introduction of a simple macroscopic entity and study its structure in terms of lattices and graphs, and show that the lattice is non-Boolean.     

One photon and macroscopic B cyclic equations: Reply to van Enk

The B cyclics of electrodynamics, which relate transverse and longitudinal fields in vacuo, are one photon relations which are also valid on a macroscopic scale. In the same way, the Maxwell equations in the received view were originally phenomenological relations between electric and magnetic fields, but, in the received view are also written down for one photon. Point by point replies to van Enk are given.     

Entangled imaging and wave-particle duality: from the microscopic to the macroscopic realm

We formulate a theory for entangled imaging, which includes also the case of a large number of photons in the two entangled beams. We show that the results for imaging and for the wave-particle duality features, which have been demonstrated in the microscopic case, persist in the macroscopic domain. We show that the quantum character of the imaging phenomena is guaranteed by the simultaneous spatial entanglement in the near and in the far field.     

Influences of decoherence on the generation of a macroscopic superposition state using weak cross-Kerr effect

Considering a system in which a single photon and a coherent field propagate through a Kerr medium, when the weak cross-Kerr interaction between the coherent state and the single photon under decoherence is involved, this paper derives analytically a macroscopic superposition state by the superoperator method and investigates the influences of decoherence on the coherence properties of the obtained state. It finds that the macroscopic superposition state will experience evolution from a pure superposltion state to a mixed state in a dissipative environment and the Kerr effect makes the field display a periodic revival from decoherence for a short time.     

Influences of decoherence on the generation of a macroscopic superposition state using weak cross-Kerr effect

Considering a system in which a single photon and a coherent field propagate through a Kerr medium, when the weak cross-Kerr interaction between the coherent state and the single photon under decoherence is involved, this paper derives analytically a macroscopic superposition state by the superoperator method and investigates the influences of decoherence on the coherence properties of the obtained state. It finds that the macroscopic superposition state will experience evolution from a pure superposition state to a mixed state in a dissipative environment and the Kerr effect makes the field display a periodic revival from decoherence for a short time.     

On macroscopic description of photorefractive phenomena

A phenomenological approach, in which the current density is related in some functional manner to the electric field and to the light intensity, is developed. The validity and advantages of this macroscopic formulation are discussed by comparing its predictions with those derived from the particular microscopic models. Finally, some general phenomenological equations are presented which include, among others, photon drag and the magneto-photovoltaic effect. Received: 6 November 1998 / Revised version: 15 January 1999 / Published online: 12 April 1999     

Quantum terahertz electrodynamics and macroscopic quantum tunneling in layered superconductors

We derive a quantum field theory of Josephson plasma waves (JPWs) in layered superconductors, which describes two types of interacting JPW bosonic quanta (one heavy and one lighter). We propose a mechanism of enhancement of macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in stacks of intrinsic Josephson junctions. Because of the long-range interaction between junctions in layered superconductors, the calculated MQT escape rate Gamma has a nonlinear dependence on the number of junctions in the stack. We show that the crossover temperature between quantum and thermal escape increases when increasing the number of junctions. This allows us to quantitatively describe striking recent experiments in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta stacks.     

Stability of macroscopic entanglement under decoherence

We investigate the lifetime of macroscopic entanglement under the influence of decoherence. For Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-type superposition states, we find that the lifetime decreases with the size of the system (i.e., the number of independent degrees of freedom), and the effective number of subsystems that remain entangled decreases with time. For a class of other states (e.g., cluster states), however, we show that the lifetime of entanglement is independent of the size of the system.     

Shot noise in linear macroscopic resistors

We report on direct experimental evidence of shot noise in a linear macroscopic resistor. The origin of the shot noise comes from the fluctuation of the total number of charge carriers inside the resistor associated with their diffusive motion under the condition that the dielectric relaxation time becomes longer than the dynamic transit time. The present results show that neither potential barriers nor the absence of inelastic scattering are necessary to observe shot noise in electronic devices.     

The collapse and revival of Bell-nonlocality of two macroscopic fields interacting with resonant atoms

We investigate the nonlocality dynamics of two initially entangled macroscopic fields each interacting with a resonant two-level atom. The nonlocality of macroscopic field is characterized by the extent to which the Bell Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH)'s inequality for continuous-variable states is violated. We show that the collapse and revival of the Bell-nonlocality are similar to the collapse and revival of the atomic population inversion of the Jaynes-Cummings model (JCM).     

Quantum teleportation through an entangled state composed of displaced vacuum and single-photon states

We study a teleportation protocol of an unknown macroscopic qubit by means of a quantum channel composed of the displaced vacuum and single-photon states. The scheme is based on linear optical devices such as a beam splitter and photon number resolving detectors. A method based on conditional measurement is used to generate both the macroscopic qubit and entangled state composed from displaced vacuum and single-photon states. We show that such a qubit has both macroscopic and microscopic properties. In particular, we investigate a quantum teleportation protocol from a macroscopic object to a microscopic state. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Generation of a displaced qubit and entangled displaced photon state via conditional measurement and their properties

We study optical schemes for generating both a displaced photon and a displaced qubit via conditional measurement. Combining one mode prepared in different microscopic states (one-mode qubit, single photon, vacuum state) and another mode in macroscopic states (coherent state, single photon added coherent state), a conditional state in the other output mode exhibits properties of a superposition of the displaced vacuum and a single photon. We propose to use the displaced qubit and entangled states composed of the displaced photon as components for quantum information processing. Basic states of such a qubit are distinguishable from each other with high fidelity. We show that the qubit reveals both microscopic and macroscopic properties. Entangled displaced states with a coherent phase as an additional degree of freedom are introduced. We show that additional degree of freedom enables to implement complete Bell state measurement of the entangled displaced photon states.     

Microdynamics and time-evolution of macroscopic non-Markovian systems. II

We study the time-evolution of the joint and the conditional probability of macroscopic variables of a closed system from a microscopic point of view. We derive an exact generalized master equation for their time rate of change which consists of two parts, one instantaneous and local in state space, the other retarded and nonlocal in state space. It is represented by stochastic operators depending both on the initial preparation and on the initial macrodistribution, which reflects the non-Markovian character of the process. The connection with the time-evolution of the single-event probability is discussed.Work Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation