Tuning between photon-number and quadrature measurements with weak-field homodyne detection

Published

March 20, 2020

Author(s)

G Thekkadath, David Phillips, Jacob Bulmer, W.R. Clements, A. Eckstein, B.A. Bell, J Lugani, Adriana Lita, Sae Woo Nam, Thomas Gerrits, C.G. Wade, Ian Walmsley

Abstract

Variable measurement operators enable optimization of strategies for testing quantum properties and for preparation of a range of quantum states. Here, we experimentally implement a weak-field homodyne detector that can continuously tune between performing a photon-number measurement and a field quadrature measurement on a quantum state ρ. We combine ρ with a coherent state |α> on a balanced beam splitter, and detect light at both output ports using photon-number-resolving transition edge sensors. We observe the discrete difference statistics converge to the quadrature distribution of ρ as we increase |α|. Moreover, in a proof-of-principle demonstration of state engineering, we show the ability to control the photon-number distribution of a state heralded using our weak-field homodyne detector.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

weak field homodyne detector, heralded state generation, quantum optics, transition edge sensor

Citation

Thekkadath, G. , Phillips, D. , Bulmer, J. , Clements, W. , Eckstein, A. , Bell, B. , Lugani, J. , Lita, A. , Nam, S. , Gerrits, T. , Wade, C. and Walmsley, I. (2020), Tuning between photon-number and quadrature measurements with weak-field homodyne detection, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.101.031801 (Accessed October 9, 2025)