Preparing magnonic non-Gaussian states by adding a single magnon onto Gaussian states

Quantum magnonics based on yttrium iron garnet (YIG) spheres provides a new arena for observing macroscopic quantum states. Here, we propose to prepare two kinds of non-Gaussian magnonic states by adding a single magnon to two Gaussian states, namely, coherent and thermal states. We adopt an optomagnonic system of a YIG sphere and use fast optical pulses to weakly activate the magnon-induced Stokes scattering. Conditioned on the detection of a polarized single photon, a single magnon can be added to an initial Gaussian state. We use a microwave cavity to prepare an initial magnon coherent state and finally read out the generated single-magnon added coherent or thermal state. Both the non-Gaussian states of a magnon mode in a large YIG sphere are macroscopic quantum states, which exhibit many nonclassical properties, such as sub-Poissonian statistics, quadrature squeezing, and a negative Wigner function. Further, both states show a smooth transition from a quantum state to a classical state with the change of the coherent or thermal magnon excitations and thus can be used for the fundamental study of the quantum-to-classical transition.