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Atomic homodyne detection of continuous-variable entangled twin-atom states

Nature volume 480, pages 219–223 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Historically, the completeness of quantum theory has been questioned using the concept of bipartite continuous-variable entanglement1. The non-classical correlations (entanglement) between the two subsystems imply that the observables of one subsystem are determined by the measurement choice on the other, regardless of the distance between the subsystems. Nowadays, continuous-variable entanglement is regarded as an essential resource, allowing for quantum enhanced measurement resolution2, the realization of quantum teleportation3,4,5 and quantum memories3,6, or the demonstration of the Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox1,7,8,9. These applications rely on techniques to manipulate and detect coherences of quantum fields, the quadratures. Whereas in optics coherent homodyne detection10 of quadratures is a standard technique, for massive particles a corresponding method was missing. Here we report the realization of an atomic analogue to homodyne detection for the measurement of matter-wave quadratures. The application of this technique to a quantum state produced by spin-changing collisions in a Bose–Einstein condensate11,12 reveals continuous-variable entanglement, as well as the twin-atom character of the state13. Our results provide a rare example of continuous-variable entanglement of massive particles6,14. The direct detection of atomic quadratures has applications not only in experimental quantum atom optics, but also for the measurement of fields in many-body systems of massive particles15.

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Figure 1: Analogy to optics and measured population correlations of twin-atom states.
Figure 2: Population of the signal and idler modes.
Figure 3: Atomic homodyning.
Figure 4: Two-mode quadrature fluctuations and mode inseparability.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge discussions with P. Grangier, A. Aspect, A. J. Ferris, M. J. Davis and B. C. Sanders. This work was supported by the Forschergruppe FOR760, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the German–Israeli Foundation, the Heidelberg Center for Quantum Dynamics, Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg, the ExtreMe Matter Institute and the European Commission Future and Emerging Technologies Open Scheme project MIDAS (Macroscopic Interference Devices for Atomic and Solid-State Systems). G.K. acknowledges support from the Humboldt-Meitner Award and the Deutsche-Israelische Projektgruppe (DIP).

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Author notes

  1. N. Bar-Gill

    Present address: Present address: Harvard-Smithsonian CfA, Harvard University Department of Physics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany,

    C. Gross, H. Strobel, E. Nicklas, T. Zibold & M. K. Oberthaler

  2. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel,

    N. Bar-Gill & G. Kurizki

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Contributions

N.B.-G. and G.K. contributed to the formulation of the problem. C.G., H.S., E.N., T.Z. and M.K.O. contributed equally to the study. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to M. K. Oberthaler.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Gross, C., Strobel, H., Nicklas, E. et al. Atomic homodyne detection of continuous-variable entangled twin-atom states. Nature 480, 219–223 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10654

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