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We experimentally generate and tomographically characterize a mixed, genuinely non-Gaussian bipartite continuous-variable entangled state. By testing entanglement in 2$\times$2-dimensional two-qubit subspaces, entangled qubits are localized within the density matrix, which, firstly, proves the distillability of the state and, secondly, is useful to estimate the efficiency and test the applicability of distillation protocols. In our example, the entangled qubits are arranged in the density matrix in an asymmetric way, i.e. entanglement is found between diverse qubits composed of different photon number states, although the entangled state is symmetric under exchanging the modes., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, published version

Shortcomings of experimental techniques are usually assumed to diminish nonclassical properties of quantum systems. Here it is demonstrated that this standard assumption is not true in general. It is theoretically shown that the inability to resolve different photon numbers in photodetection may pseudo-increase a measured Bell parameter. Under proper conditions one even pseudo-violates the quantum Cirel'son bound of the Bell parameter, the corresponding density operator fails to be positive semi-definite. This paradox can be resolved by appropriate squash models., Comment: Corrected published version

The characterization of physical systems requires a comprehensive understanding of quantum effects. One aspect is a proper quantification of the strength of such quantum phenomena. Here, a general convex ordering of quantum states will be introduced which is based on the algebraic definition of classical states. This definition resolves the ambiguity of the quantumness quantification using topological distance measures. Classical operations on quantum states will be considered to further generalize the ordering prescription. Our technique can be used for a natural and unambiguous quantification of general quantum properties whose classical reference has a convex structure. We apply this method to typical scenarios in quantum optics and quantum information theory to study measures which are based on the fundamental quantum superposition principle., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, revised version; published in special issue "150 years of Margarita and Vladimir Man'ko"

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the nonclassicality of bosonic quantum states are formulated by introducing nonclassicality filters and nonclassicality quasiprobability distributions. Regular quasiprobabilities are constructed from characteristic functions which can be directly sampled by balanced homodyne detection. Their negativities uncover the nonclassical effects of general quantum states. The method is illustrated by visualizing the nonclassical nature of a squeezed state., Comment: Significantly revised version, more emphasis on practical application

The resonance fluorescence from regular atomic systems is shown to represent a continuous source of non-Gaussian entangled radiation propagating in two different directions. For a single atom entanglement occurs under the same conditions as squeezing. For more atoms, the entanglement can be more robust against dephasing than squeezing, hence providing a useful continuous source for various applications of entangled radiation., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure

Bound entanglement with a nonpositive partial transposition (NPT) does not exist. For any NPT entangled state a distillation procedure can be based on a certain number of copies. This number is the minimal Schmidt rank of a pure state needed to witness the NPT entanglement under study., Comment: We provide a more sophisticated proof, since we could not overcome the criticism that the used angles are not angles between vectors. Comments are welcome, 2 pages

The propagation of polarization-entangled states of light through fluctuating loss channels in the turbulent atmosphere is studied, including the situation of strong losses. We consider violations of Bell inequalities by light, emitted by a parametric down-conversion source, after transmission through the turbulent atmosphere. It is shown by analytical calculations, that in the presence of background radiation and dark counts, fluctuating loss channels may preserve entanglement properties of light even better than standard loss channels, when postselected measurements are applied., Comment: Corrected published version; appendices include supplementary materials

The class of local invertible operations is defined and the invariance of entanglement under such operations is established. For the quantification of entanglement, universal entanglement measures are defined, which are invariant under local invertible transformations. They quantify entanglement in a very general sense. It is shown that the Schmidt number is a universal entanglement measure, which is most important for the general amount of entanglement. For special applications, pseudo-measures are defined to quantify the useful entanglement for a certain quantum task. The entanglement quantification is further specified by operational measures, which include the accessible observables by a given experimental setup., Comment: 8 pages, Phys. Scr. in press, for previous Section IV see manuscript "Determination of the Schmidt number"

In 1927 the great physicist Paul A. M. Dirac failed to provide a consistent quantum description of the phase of a radiation field. Only one year later, he developed the famous Dirac theory of the electron, which led to the anti-particle -- the positron. We show that the reason for Dirac's failure with the phase problem bears a striking resemblance to his ingenious insight into the nature of the electron. For a correct quantum description of the phase of a radiation field it is necessary to take the polarisation into account. Similarly to the introduction of the anti-particle of the electron, the inclusion of the second polarisation resolves the inconsistency of the quantum phase problem. This also leads to new insight into the quantum measurement problem of time., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

To quantify single mode nonclassicality, we start from an operational approach. A positive semi-definite observable is introduced to describe a measurement setup. The quantification is based on the negativity of the normally ordered version of this observable. Perfect operational quantumness corresponds to the quantum-noise-free measurement of the chosen observable. Surprisingly, even moderately squeezed states may exhibit perfect quantumness for a properly designed measurement. The quantification is also considered from an axiomatic viewpoint, based on the algebraic structure of the quantum states and the quantum superposition principle. Basic conclusions from both approaches are consistent with this fundamental principle of the quantum world., Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, extended version

Nonclassical properties of light propagating through the turbulent atmosphere are studied. We demonstrate by numerical simulation that the probability distribution of the transmission coefficient, which characterizes the effects of the atmosphere on the quantum state of light, can be reconstructed by homodyne detection. Nonclassical photon-statistics and, more generally, nonclassical Glauber-Sudarshan functions appear to be more robust against turbulence for weak light fields rather than for bright ones., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; published version

It is shown that entanglement, which is a quantum correlation property of at least two subsystems, is imprinted in the mode structure of a single photon. The photon, which is emitted by two coupled cavities, carries the information on the concurrence of the two intracavity fields. This can be useful for recording the entanglement dynamics of two cavity fields and for entanglement transfer., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

We experimentally examine the nonclassical character of a class of non-Gaussian states known as phase-diffused squeezed states. These states may show no squeezing effect at all, and therefore provide an interesting example to test nonclassicality criteria. The characteristic function of the Glauber-Sudarshan representation (P function) proves to be a powerful tool to detect nonclassicality. Using this criterion we find that phase-diffused squeezed states are always nonclassical, even if the squeezing effect vanishes. Testing other criteria of nonclassicality based on higher-order squeezing and the positive semidefinitness of special matrices of normally ordered moments, it is found that these criteria fail to reveal the nonclassicality for some of the prepared phase-diffused squeezed states., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures

Any bipartite quantum state has quasi-probability representations in terms of separable states. For entangled states these quasi-probabilities necessarily exhibit negativities. Based on the general structure of composite quantum states, one may reconstruct such quasi-propabilities from experimental data. Because of ambiguity, the quasi-probabilities obtained by the bare reconstruction are insufficient to identify entanglement. An optimization procedure is introduced to derive quasi-probabilities with a minimal amount of negativity. Negativities of optimized quasi-probabilities unambiguously prove entanglement, their positivity proves separability., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; An optimization procedure for the quasi-probabilities has been added

Starting from arbitrary Hilbert spaces, we reduce the problem to verify entanglement of any bipartite quantum state to finite dimensional subspaces. Hence, entanglement is a finite dimensional property. A generalization for multipartite quantum states is also given., Comment: 4 pages

The dynamics of a cascaded system that consists of two atom-cavity subsystems is studied by using the quantum trajectory method. Considering the two atom-cavity subsystems driven by a Raman interaction, analytical solutions are obtained. Subsequently, the entanglement evolution between the two atoms is studied, and it is shown that the entanglement can be stored by switching off the Raman coupling. By monitoring the radiation field, the entanglement between the two atoms can be enhanced., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

Necessary and sufficient conditions for bipartite entanglement are derived, which apply to arbitrary Hilbert spaces. Motivated by the concept of witnesses, optimized entanglement inequalities are formulated solely in terms of arbitrary Hermitian operators, which makes them useful for applications in experiments. The needed optimization procedure is based on a separability eigenvalue problem, whose analytical solutions are derived for a special class of projection operators. For general Hermitian operators, a numerical implementation of entanglement tests is proposed. It is also shown how to identify bound entangled states with positive partial transposition., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

A quantum state is nonclassical if its Glauber-Sudarshan P function fails to be interpreted as a probability density. This quantity is often highly singular, so that its reconstruction is a demanding task. Here we present the experimental determination of a well-behaved P function showing negativities for a single-photon-added thermal state. This is a direct visualization of the original definition of nonclassicality. The method can be useful under conditions for which many other signatures of nonclassicality would not persist., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

Multipartite Bell-type inequalities are derived for general systems. They involve up to eight observables with arbitrary spectra on each site. These inequalities are closely related to the algebras of quaternions and octonions., Comment: 4 pages, no figures

Based on a microscopic derivation of the emission spectra of a bulk semiconductor we arrive at a clear physical interpretation of the noise current operators in macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. This opens the possibility to study medium effects on nonclassical radiation propagating through an absorbing or amplifying semiconductor. As an example, the propagation of an incident squeezed vacuum is analyzed., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

Minimum-uncertainty squeezed states, related to a broad class of observables, are analyzed. Methods for characterizing such states are developed, which are based on numerical solutions of ordinary differential equations. As typical examples we deal with nonlinear generalizations of quadrature squeezed states and deformed nonlinear squeezed states. In this manner one may derive those squeezed states which are directly related to given observables. This can be useful for optimized measurements at a reduced level of quantum-noise., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures

The dynamics of an initially excited two-level atom in a lossy cavity is studied by using the quantum trajectory method. Unwanted losses are included, such as photon absorption and scattering by the cavity mirrors and spontaneous emission of the atom. Based on the obtained analytical solutions, it is shown that the shape of the extracted spatiotemporal radiation mode sensitively depends on the atom-field interaction. In the case of a short-term atom-field interaction we show how different pulse shapes for the field extracted from the cavity can be controlled by the interaction time.

Within the framework of exact quantum electrodynamics in dispersing and absorbing media, we have studied the quantum state of the radiation emitted from an initially in the upper state prepared two-level atom in a high-$Q$ cavity, including the regime where the emitted photon belongs to a wave packet that simultaneously covers the areas inside and outside the cavity. For both continuing atom--field interaction and short-term atom--field interaction, we have determined the spatio-temporal shape of the excited outgoing wave packet and calculated the efficiency of the wave packet to carry a one-photon Fock state. Furthermore, we have made contact with quantum noise theories where the intracavity field and the field outside the cavity are regarded as approximately representing independent degrees of freedom such that two separate Hilbert spaces can be introduced., Comment: 16 pages, 7 eps figures; improved version as submitted to Phys. Rev. A

Characteristic functions are shown to be useful for highly sensitive measurements. Redistributions of motional Fock states of a trapped atom can be directly monitored via the most fragile nonclassical part of the characteristic function. The method can also be used for decoherence measurements in optical quantum-information systems., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

A procedure is developed which allows one to measure all the parameters occurring in a complete model [A.A. Semenov et al., Phys. Rev. A 74, 033803 (2006); quant-ph/0603043] of realistic leaky cavities with unwanted noise. The method is based on the reflection of properly chosen test pulses by the cavity., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures

The problem of the description of absorption and scattering losses in high-Q cavities is studied. The considerations are based on quantum noise theories, hence the unwanted noise associated with scattering and absorption is taken into account by introduction of additional damping and noise terms in the quantum Langevin equations and input--output relations. Completeness conditions for the description of the cavity models obtained in this way are studied and corresponding replacement schemes are discussed., Comment: Contribution to XI International Conference on Quantum Optics, Minsk, Belarus, 26-31 May, 2006

Necessary and sufficient observable conditions for the nonnegativity of all partial transpositions of multi-mode quantum states are derived. The result is a hierarchy of inequalities for minors in terms of moments of the given state. Violations of any inequality is a sufficient condition for entanglement. Full entanglement can be certified for a manifold of multi-mode quantum states. A \textit{Mathematica} package is given for a systematic test of the hierarchy of conditions., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figures, modified and corrected version

A phenomenological approach is developed that allows one to completely describe the effects of unwanted noise, such as the noise associated with absorption and scattering, in high-Q cavities. This noise is modeled by a block of beam splitters and an additional input-output port. The replacement schemes enable us to formulate appropriate quantum Langevin equations and input-output relations. It is demonstrated that unwanted noise renders it possible to combine a cavity input mode and the intracavity mode in a nonmonochromatic output mode. Possible applications to unbalanced and cascaded homodyning of the intracavity mode are discussed and the advantages of the latter method are shown., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures; published version

A measurement technique is proposed which, in principle, allows one to observe the general space-time correlation properties of a quantized radiation field. Our method, called balanced homodyne correlation measurement, unifies the advantages of balanced homodyne detection with those of homodyne correlation measurements., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, small misprints were corrected, accepted to Phys. Rev. Lett

The quantized electromagnetic field inside and outside an absorbing high-$Q$ cavity is studied, with special emphasis on the absorption losses in the coupling mirror and their influence on the outgoing field. Generalized operator input-output relations are derived, which are used to calculate the Wigner function of the outgoing field. To illustrate the theory, the preparation of the outgoing field in a Schr\"{o}dinger cat-like state is discussed., Comment: 12 pages, 5 eps figures

A novel robust mechanism for the generation of "trapping states" is shown to exist in the coupling of a two-level system with an oscillator, which is based on nonlinearities in the laser-induced vibronic coupling. This mechanism is exemplified with an ion confined in the potential well of a trap, where the nonlinearities are due to Franck--Condon type overlap integrals of the laser waves with the ionic centre-of-mass wavefunction. In contrast to the coherent trapping mechanism known from micro-maser theory, this mechanism works also in an incoherent regime operated by noisy lasers and is therefore much more robust against external decoherence effects. These features favour the incoherent regime, in particular for the preparation of highly excited trapping states., Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures

We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the partial transposition of bipartite harmonic quantum states to be nonnegative. The conditions are formulated as an infinite series of inequalities for the moments of the state under study. The violation of any inequality of this series is a sufficient condition for entanglement. Previously known entanglement conditions are shown to be special cases of our approach., Comment: 4 pages, no figures. Small misprints were corrected

Practically applicable criteria for the nonclassicality of quantum states are formulated in terms of different types of moments. For this purpose the moments of the creation and annihilation operators, of two quadratures, and of a quadrature and the photon number operator turn out to be useful. It is shown that all the required moments can be determined by homodyne correlation measurements. An example of a nonclassical effect that is easily characterized by our methods is amplitude-squared squeezing., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures

Within the framework of exact quantization of the electromagnetic field in dispersing and absorbing media the input-output problem of a high-$Q$ cavity is studied, with special emphasis on the absorption losses in the coupling mirror. As expected, the cavity modes are found to obey quantum Langevin equations, which could be also obtained from quantum noise theories, by appropriately coupling the cavity modes to dissipative systems, including the effect of the mirror-assisted absorption losses. On the contrary, the operator input-output relations obtained in this way would be incomplete in general, as the exact calculation shows. On the basis of the operator input-output relations the problem of extracting the quantum state of an initially excited cavity mode is studied and input-output relations for the $s$-parameterized phase-space function are derived, with special emphasis on the relation between the Wigner functions of the quantum states of the outgoing field and the cavity field., Comment: 17 pages, 1 eps figure, typeset using RevTex4; published version

The problem of extraction of a single-mode quantum state from a high-Q cavity is studied for the case in which the time of preparation of the quantum state of the cavity mode is short compared with its decay time. The temporal evolution of the quantum state of the field escaping from the cavity is calculated in terms of phase-space functions. A general condition is derived under which the quantum state of the pulse built up outside the cavity is a nearly perfect copy of the quantum state the cavity field was initially prepared in. The results show that unwanted losses prevent the realization of a nearly perfect extraction of nonclassical quantum states from high-Q optical microcavities with presently available technology., Comment: RevTeX4, 9 pages with 6 figures; extended version as submitted to Phys. Rev. A

The equations of motion for the molecular rotation are derived for vibrationally cold dimers that are polarized by off-resonant laser light. It is shown that, by eliminating electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom, a quantum master equation for the reduced rotational density operator can be obtained. The coherent rotational dynamics is caused by stimulated Raman transitions, whereas spontaneous Raman transitions lead to decoherence in the motion of the quantized angular momentum. As an example the molecular dynamics for the optical Kerr effect is chosen, revealing decoherence and heating of the molecular rotation., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. A

We study the counterpart to the multi-photon down conversion in the quantised motion of a trapped atom. The Lamb-Dicke approximation leads to a divergence of the mean motional excitation in a finite interaction time for k-quantum down conversions with k>=3, analogous to the situation in the parametric approximation of nonlinear optics. We show that, in contrast to the Lamb-Dicke approximation, the correct treatment of the overlap of the atomic center-of-mass wave function and the driving laser waves leads to a proper dynamics without any divergence problem. That is, the wavy nature of both matter and light is an important physical property which cannot be neglected for describing the motional dynamics of a trapped atom, even for small Lamb-Dicke parameters., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures (to be published in Phys. Rev. A)

We propose a method for measuring entangled vibronic quantum states of a trapped atom. It is based on the nonlinear dynamics of the system that appears by resonantly driving a weak electronic transition. The proposed technique allows the direct sampling of a Wigner-function matrix, displaying all knowable information on the quantum correlations of the motional and electronic degrees of freedom of the atom. It opens novel possibilities for testing fundamental predictions of the quantum theory concerning interaction phenomena., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. A 56 (Aug)

Raman-type laser excitation of a trapped atom allows one to realize the quantum mechanical counterpart of phenomena of nonlinear optics, such as Kerr-type nonlinearities, parametric amplification, and multi-mode mixing. Additionally, huge nonlinearities emerge from the interference of the atomic wave function with the laser waves. They lead to a partitioning of the phase space accompanied by a significantly different action of the time evolution in neighboring phase-space zones. For example, a nonlinearly modified coherent "displacement" of the motional quantum state may induce strong amplitude squeezing and quantum interferences., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. A 55 (June)

We propose a method for reconstruction of the density matrix from measurable time-dependent (probability) distributions of physical quantities. The applicability of the method based on least-squares inversion is - compared with other methods - very universal. It can be used to reconstruct quantum states of various systems, such as harmonic and and anharmonic oscillators including molecular vibrations in vibronic transitions and damped motion. It also enables one to take into account various specific features of experiments, such as limited sets of data and data smearing owing to limited resolution. To illustrate the method, we consider a Morse oscillator and give a comparison with other state-reconstruction methods suggested recently., Comment: 16 pages, REVTeX, 6 PS figures included