Abstract
We discuss a possible realization of a quantum register with controllable decoherence in terms of and photon number states of a micromaser field. It is shown how to create in the Jaynes-Cummings model a superposition state of and photon number states inside a closed micromaser cavity. The loss of phase coherence between these two states can subsequently be measured by a second probe atom monitoring the decoherence of the field. A technique is proposed for forming the superposition of number states and using the time structure of the Rabi oscillation. The proposed method avoids problems with stray fields at the cavity holes, which disturb the coherence of the atomic superposition, and offers a way to study how the coupling strength to the environment influences the decoherence rate, displaying the robustness of physical qubits and the fidelity of quantum computations.
- Received 21 October 2003
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.160407
©2004 American Physical Society