Classical analogy of a cat state using vortex light

TL;DR

This paper presents an experimental model that simulates optical cat states using classical vortex light, demonstrating behaviors analogous to quantum superpositions and studying their evolution and decoherence effects.

Contribution

The authors engineered a classical optical system that mimics quantum cat states, enabling visualization and analysis of superposition behaviors in a controllable setting.

Findings

The classical vortex light system exhibits behaviors similar to quantum cat states in phase space.

The a-CS can be transitioned from 'kitten' to 'cat' states by phase hologram engineering.

Simulated atmospheric turbulence affects the coherence of the a-CS, modeling decoherence effects.

Abstract

Cat states are systems in a superposition of macroscopically distinguishable states; this superposition can be of either classically or quantum distinct state, regardless of the number of particles or modes involved. Here, we constructed an experimental model that simulates an optical cat state by engineering the classical orbital angular momentum of light, referred to here as an analogous cat state (a-CS). In our scheme, the behaviors of the a-CS in position space show many similarities to the quantum version of the optical cat state in phase space, for example, movement, rotation, and interference. Experimentally, the a-CS, which has two spatially localized Gaussian intensity lobes, can be evolved from "kitten" to "cat" by engineering the acquired phase hologram. Additionally, we simulated the "decoherence" of the a-CS influenced by atmospheric turbulence. The a-CS provides a reliable tool for visualizing and studying the behaviors of quantum cat states in phase space.