Generation of any superposition of coherent states along a straight line via resonant atom－cavity interaction

This paper proposes a scheme for generating arbitrary superpositions of several coherent states along a straight line for a cavity mode. In the scheme, several atoms are sent through a cavity initially in a strong coherent state. The superposition of several coherent states with desired coefficients may be generated if each atom is detected in the excited state after it exits the cavity. The scheme is based on resonant atom--cavity interaction and no classical field is required during and after the atom--cavity interaction. Thus, the scheme is very simple and the interaction time is very short, which is important in view of decoherence.