As a generalization of the optical Schrödinger cats, discrete sets of coherent states are considered on a circle in the α plane. It is shown that simple superpositions of Schrödinger cats exhibit amplitude squeezing, similarly to the case of a superposition of several coherent states along a straight line that shows quadrature squeezing. The interference fringes between the coherent states form the annuli of the Fock states in the Wigner-function picture. It is also shown that a continuous superposition of coherent states on a circle can serve as a basis for the representation of any state.

• Received 24 March 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.48.2213