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Deterministic feedforward-based generation of large optical coherent-state superposition

Michele N. Notarnicola1,*, Marcin Jarzyna2,†, and Radim Filip1,‡

  • 1Department of Optics, Palacký University, 17. Listopadu 12, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
  • 2Centre for Quantum Optical Technologies, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warszawa, Poland

  • *Contact author: michelenicola.notarnicola@upol.cz
  • †Contact author: m.jarzyna@cent.uw.edu.pl
  • ‡Contact author: filip@optics.upol.cz

Phys. Rev. Research 8, 043068 – Published 19 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/l944-5x1g

Abstract

Large optical coherent-state superpositions are essential to advance quantum sensing, quantum repeaters, and error-correction codes. We propose a deterministic feedforward protocol employing qubit-mode dispersive coupling, currently available in cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). We show this single-mode protocol to outperform the advanced three-mode Gaussian-photon-number-resolving detector scheme in terms of both average fidelity and quantum non-Gaussian phase-space properties, and propose sensitivity to weak displacements of interference fringes as a feasible and conclusive witness of quantum interference. This approach combining QED with electro-optical feedforward is extendable to tailored states for applications and other platforms.

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