QUANTUM-STATISTICAL PROPERTIES OF A PARTICLE IN A DOUBLE-HARMONIC-OSCILLATOR POTENTIAL - GENERATION OF SCHRODINGER-CAT STATES

The quantum-mechanical double harmonic oscillator is proposed as a mod el for the generation of Schrodinger-cat states. To demonstrate this t he quantum-statistical properties of the double oscillator in its grou nd state are examined. The nonclassical nature of this state and inter ference effects are analyzed. The squeezing properties of the double h armonic oscillator are calculated and compared with those of the ''ide alized'' cat state. The behavior of the quasiprobability distribution function is also discussed.