Preparing Fock states in the micromaser

In this paper we give a survey of our experiments performed with the microm aser on the generation of Fock states. Three methods can be used for this p urpose: the trapping states leading to Fock states in a continuous wave ope ration; state reduction of a pulsed pumping beam and finally using a pulsed pumping beam to produce Fock states on demand where trapping states stabil ize the photon number. The latter method is discussed in detail by means of Monte Carlo simulations of the maser system. The results of the simulation s are presented in a video. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.