【文章介绍】利用涡旋光场模拟薛定谔猫态

　　猫态，是量子力学的核心。最著名的是1935年薛定谔提出的薛定谔猫态。其常常在理论物理和文学作品中出现。现代量子光学中的猫态是两个相干态的叠加，其在相空间中会出现两个分离的波包，从而实现“宏观叠加态”的效果：一个同时处于死和活的状态的猫。（下图为相空间中的猫分布）

     本文创造性的提出采用表象变换的方式，将生活在光子数表象中的猫变换到空间模式数表象（轨道角动量，OAM）中。理论上我们发现了OAM薛定谔猫态的光强分布跟猫态在相空间的Wigner函数分布十分相似：基于OAM的猫态在位置空间（光强分布）劈裂为两个叠加的波包。生活在空间模式中的猫很好的模拟了生活在光子数中猫态。（下图是一个动画展示了猫从小猫到大猫演化的过程）

文章目前被Communications-Physics，接收。下面是Abstract。具体见（Communications Physics. Volume 2, Article number: 75 (2019)）

【Abstract】     Cat states are systems in a superposition of macroscopically distinguishable states; this superposition can be of either classically or quantum distinct state, regardless of the number of particles or modes involved. Here, we constructed an experimental model that simulates an optical cat state by engineering the classical orbital angular momentum of light, referred to here as an analogous cat state (a-CS). In our scheme, the behaviors of the a-CS in position space show many similarities to the quantum version of the optical cat state in phase space, for example, movement, rotation, and interference. Experimentally, the a-CS, which has two spatially localized Gaussian intensity lobes, can be evolved from "kitten" to "cat" by engineering the acquired phase hologram. Additionally, we simulated the "decoherence" of the a-CS influenced by atmospheric turbulence. The a-CS provides a reliable tool for visualizing and studying the behaviors of quantum cat states in phase space.