Abstract

Present techniques allow one to perform continuous or discrete quantum measurements at or even beyond the standard "quantum noise" level, even on single quantum objects. In this context, Kip Thorne and Vladimir Braginsky introduced in the seventies the concept of "Quantum Non Demolition (QND) measurement", which was initially meant to be applied to mechanical harmonic oscillators designed for detecting gravitational waves, the so-called "Weber's bars". But the QND ideas encountered a real success in quantum optics, where quantum fluctuations are readily accessible, and can also be circumvented.

© 2000 IEEE