Photon number projective measurement in Schrödinger cat quantum state preparation procedure after parametric down-conversion interaction

Abstract: The preparation of bright Schr\"odinger cat (SC) states is of great interest for various areas of quantum technologies. In our previous paper, we proposed a probabilistic procedure for preparing SC states using degenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) with depleting pump mode and subsequent projective measurement in the pump mode. In this paper, we aim to provide our interpretation of this process which is could be used to build more general theory -- fully theoretical understanding of SPDC with depleting pump mode, which is currently was not provided in quantum domain. We also report that even-photon measurement also allows obtaining SC states, albeit less bright.