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Quantum Decoherence of Single-Photon Counters

V. D’Auria, N. Lee, T. Amri, C. Fabre, and J. Laurat
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 050504 – Published 28 July 2011
Physics logo See Synopsis: The quantum side of detectors

Abstract

The interaction of a quantum system with the environment leads to the so-called quantum decoherence. Beyond its fundamental significance, the understanding and the possible control of this dynamics in various scenarios is a key element for mastering quantum information processing. Here we report the quantitative probing of what can be called the quantum decoherence of detectors, a process reminiscent of the decoherence of quantum states in the presence of coupling with a reservoir. We demonstrate how the quantum features of two single-photon counters vanish under the influence of a noisy environment. We thereby experimentally witness the transition between the full-quantum operation of the measurement device to the "semi-classical regime", described by a positive Wigner function. The exact border between these two regimes is explicitely determined and measured experimentally.

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  • Received 19 May 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.050504

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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The quantum side of detectors

Published 28 July 2011

By applying environmental noise to a photon detector, researchers have identified the boundary where the device switches from a quantum device to a classical one.

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Authors & Affiliations

V. D’Auria, N. Lee, T. Amri, C. Fabre, and J. Laurat

  • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Case 74, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 5 — 29 July 2011

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