Superposition of Fock states via adiabatic passage in a coupled four-level atom－cavity system

We have investigated the behaviour of an atom－cavity system via a stimulated Raman adiabatic passage technique in a four-level system, in which two dark states are present. We find, because of the coherent control field, that a superposition of Fock states can be prepared, even when the cavity is initially not in its vacuum state. This method provides a way to generate arbitrary quantum states of a cavity field.