Quantum correlation and state reduction of photon twins produced by a parametric amplifier

Abstract

Signal and idler waves produced by a nondegenerate parametric amplifier feature strong positive correlation between their photon numbers, or in-phase amplitudes. They feature equally strong negative correlation between their phases, or quadrature-phase amplitudes. These photon twins can produce arbitrarily squeezed states via state reduction by appropriate measurements of an idler wave. When the quadrature amplitude of an idler wave is measured, the signal wave is collapsed to a quadrature-amplitude squeezed state. When the two-quadrature amplitudes of an idler wave are measured simultaneously, the signal wave becomes a coherent state.