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Wigner distribution function analysis of a Schrödinger cat superposition of displaced equilibrium coherent states

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Acta Physica Hungarica Series B, Quantum Electronics

Abstract

Motivated by recent experiments, we consider a Schrödinger cat superposition of two widely separated coherent states in thermal equilibrium. The time development of our system is obtained using Wigner distribution functions. In contrast to our discussion for a two-Gaussian wave packet [Phys. Lett. A 286 (2001) 87]. we find that, in the absence of dissipation, the interference term does not decay rapidly in time, but in common with the other two terms, it oscillates in time and persists for all times.

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Author notes

  1. G. W. Ford

    Present address: Department of Physics, University of Michigan, 48109-1120, Ann Arbor, MI

  2. R. F. O’Connell

    Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, 70803-4001, Baton Rouge, LA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Theoretical Physics, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 10 Burlington Road, Dublin 4, Ireland

    G. W. Ford & R. F. O’Connell

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  1. G. W. Ford
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  2. R. F. O’Connell
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Correspondence to G. W. Ford.

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Ford, G.W., O’Connell, R.F. Wigner distribution function analysis of a Schrödinger cat superposition of displaced equilibrium coherent states. Acta Phys. Hung. B 20, 91–94 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1556/APH.20.2004.1-2.17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/APH.20.2004.1-2.17

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