Abstract

We demonstrate how a new exactly soluble cavity QED model can be used to test local realism associated with three-particle entangled states, as proposed by Mermin. These states embody the correlations described by Greenberger, Horne, and Zeilinger (GHZ) and provide a stronger refutation of local hidden variable theories than is possible with Bell inequalities. It is shown that two photons distributed in the model’s four cavity modes coupled with a two-level atom can effectively produce three independent spin-1/2 particle states. We discuss preparation of the desired perfectly correlated GHZ state and a method to perform measurement on various field modes and atomic level correlations equivalent to a spin component along any direction.

© 1992 Optical Society of America