Modifying quantum optical states by zero-photon subtraction

TL;DR

This paper experimentally explores zero-photon subtraction in quantum optics, revealing how it can modify quantum states and complement single-photon subtraction, with implications for quantum communication.

Contribution

It demonstrates the effects of zero-photon subtraction across various quantum states and links it to Mandel's Q-parameter, expanding understanding of quantum state manipulation.

Findings

Zero-photon subtraction can alter quantum states similarly to single-photon subtraction.

The behavior of zero-photon subtraction depends on the input state's photon statistics.

Connections are established between zero-photon subtraction effects and Mandel's Q-parameter.

Abstract

The process of single-photon subtraction (SPS) is known to dramatically alter the properties of certain quantum optical states. Somewhat surprisingly, subtracting zero photons can also modify quantum states and has practical applications in quantum communication. Here we experimentally investigate zero-photon subtraction (ZPS) using a wide variety of input states and conditional measurements based on actively detecting zero photons in one output port of a variable beamsplitter. We find that SPS and ZPS can exhibit complementary behavior depending on the photon statistics of the input states, and highlight deeper connections with Mandel's $Q$-parameter for classifying quantum states.