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Experimental Determination of the Motional Quantum State of a Trapped Atom

Published

Author(s)

Dietrich G. Leibfried, D M. Meekhof, B E. King, C Monroe, Wayne M. Itano, David J. Wineland

Abstract

We reconstruct the density matrices and Wigner functions for various quantum states of motion of a harmonically bound 9Be+ ion. We apply coherent displacements of different amplitudes and phases to the input state and measure the number state populations. Using novel reconstruction schemes we independently determine both the density matrix in the number state basis and the Wigner function. These reconstructions are sensitive indicators of decoherence in the system.
Citation
Physical Review Letters
Volume
77

Citation

Leibfried, D. , Meekhof, D. , King, B. , Monroe, C. , Itano, W. and Wineland, D. (1996), Experimental Determination of the Motional Quantum State of a Trapped Atom, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=104995 (Accessed October 13, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created January 1, 1996, Updated February 17, 2017