Multi-photon subtracted thermal states: description, preparation and reconstruction

TL;DR

This paper explores the generation, characterization, and reconstruction of multi-photon subtracted thermal states using a novel method with a single-photon detector, achieving high fidelity in state reconstruction.

Contribution

It introduces an original technique for preparing up to ten photon subtracted states with a single-photon detector and demonstrates high-fidelity reconstruction using homodyne measurements.

Findings

Successful preparation of up to ten photon subtracted states.

Reconstruction fidelity exceeds 99%.

Experimental validation of photon number and quadrature distributions.

Abstract

We present a study of optical quantum states generated by subtraction of photons from the thermal state. Some aspects of their photon number and quadrature distributions are discussed and checked experimentally. We demonstrate an original method of up to ten photon subtracted state preparation with use of just one single-photon detector. All the states where measured with use of balanced homodyne technique, and the corresponding density matrices where reconstructed. The fidelity between desired and reconstructed states exceeds 99%