Quantum state of an ideal propagating laser field

We give a quantum information-theoretic description of an ideal propagating cw laser field and reinterpret typical quantum-optical experiments in light of this. In particular, we show that, contrary to recent claims [T. Rudolph and B. C. Sanders, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 077903 (2001)], a conventional l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 88; no. 2; p. 027902
Main Authors van Enk, S J, Fuchs, Christopher A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 14.01.2002
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Summary:We give a quantum information-theoretic description of an ideal propagating cw laser field and reinterpret typical quantum-optical experiments in light of this. In particular, we show that, contrary to recent claims [T. Rudolph and B. C. Sanders, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 077903 (2001)], a conventional laser can be used for quantum teleportation with continuous variables and for generating continuous-variable entanglement. Optical coherence is not required, but phase coherence is. We also show that coherent states play a privileged role in the description of laser light.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.88.027902