Slowing Quantum Decoherence by Squeezing in Phase Space

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates experimentally that squeezing optical superposition states can significantly slow their decoherence in lossy channels, enhancing their robustness for quantum information applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to slow quantum decoherence by squeezing superposition states and quantifies this robustness using a new measure based on Wigner function negativity.

Findings

Squeezing reduces decoherence of optical superposition states.

A new measure of robustness based on Wigner negativity decay.

Experimental validation of slowed decoherence in lossy channels.

Abstract

Non-Gaussian states, and specifically the paradigmatic Schr\"odinger cat state, are well-known to be very sensitive to losses. When propagating through damping channels, these states quickly loose their non-classical features and the associated negative oscillations of their Wigner function. However, by squeezing the superposition states, the decoherence process can be qualitatively changed and substantially slowed down. Here, as a first example, we experimentally observe the reduced decoherence of squeezed optical coherent-state superpositions through a lossy channel. To quantify the robustness of states, we introduce a combination of a decaying value and a rate-of-decay of the Wigner function negativity. This work, which uses squeezing as an ancillary Gaussian resource, opens new possibilities to protect and manipulate quantum superpositions in phase space.