Simultaneous continuous measurement of photon-counting and homodyne detection on a free photon field: dynamics of state reduction and mutual influence of measurement backaction

Abstract

We analyze a simultaneous continuous measurement of photon-counting and homodyne detection. The stochastic master equation or stochastic Schrödinger equation describing the measurement process includes both jump-type and diffusive-type stochastic increments. Analytic expressions of the wave function conditioned on homodyne and photon-counting records are obtained, yielding the probability density distributions and generating functions of the measurement records. Formula for the expectation values of the homodyne records conditioned on a photon-counting event is also derived which quantitatively describes the measurement backaction of photon-counting on the homodyne output. The obtained results are applied to typical initial states --- coherent, number, thermal, and squeezed states. Monte Carlo simulations of the measurement processes are also presented to demonstrate the dynamics of the combined measurement process.

19 pages, 2 figures