Production of mesoscopic superpositions with ultracold atoms

TL;DR

This paper explores the creation of mesoscopic superpositions in ultracold atomic systems, demonstrating rapid generation methods and discussing their significance for decoherence studies and precision measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a method to rapidly produce mesoscopic superpositions in Bose-Einstein condensates via dispersive atom-photon interactions in a cavity.

Findings

Mesoscopic superpositions can be generated rapidly in BECs.

Discussion of creating generalized Schrödinger cat states.

Implications for decoherence and precision measurement.

Abstract

We study mesoscopic superpositions of two component Bose-Einstein condensates. Atomic condensates, with long coherence times, are good systems in which to study such quantum phenomenon. We show that the mesoscopic superposition states can be rapidly generated in which the atoms dispersively interact with the photon field in a cavity. We also discuss the production of compass states which are generalized Schr\"{o}dinger cat states. The physical realization of mesoscopic states is important in studying decoherence and precision measurement.