Experimental test of nonclassicality criteria

T. Kiesel, W. Vogel, B. Hage, J. DiGuglielmo, A. Samblowski, R. Schnabel

Published 2008-12-16, updated 2008-12-18Version 2

We experimentally examine the nonclassical character of a class of non-Gaussian states known as phase-diffused squeezed states. These states may show no squeezing effect at all, and therefore provide an interesting example to test nonclassicality criteria. The characteristic function of the Glauber-Sudarshan representation (P function) proves to be a powerful tool to detect nonclassicality. Using this criterion we find that phase-diffused squeezed states are always nonclassical, even if the squeezing effect vanishes. Testing other criteria of nonclassicality based on higher-order squeezing and the positive semidefinitness of special matrices of normally ordered moments, it is found that these criteria fail to reveal the nonclassicality for some of the prepared phase-diffused squeezed states.