BACK-ACTION IN THE MEASUREMENT OF MACROSCOPIC QUANTUM SUPERPOSITIONS IN MICROWAVE CAVITIES

Authors
ZAUGG T WILKENS M MEYSTRE P
Citation
T. Zaugg et al., BACK-ACTION IN THE MEASUREMENT OF MACROSCOPIC QUANTUM SUPERPOSITIONS IN MICROWAVE CAVITIES, Foundations of physics, 23(6), 1993, pp. 857-871
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
Foundations of physics → ACNP
ISSN journal
00159018
Volume
23
Issue
6
Year of publication
1993
Pages
857 - 871
Database
ISI
SICI code
0015-9018(1993)23:6<857:BITMOM>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
We analyze the back-action of nonlinear atomic homodyning measurements on steady-state ''macroscopic superpositions'' that can be generated in high-Q microwave cavities. We show that a full characterization of the state requires measurements such that the macroscopic superpositio n is irreversibly destroyed that is, it cannot be reconstructed by usi ng the scheme that was used to generate it in the first place.