Quantum occupation scale of a classical oscillator

ID: quantum-occupation-scale-of-a-classical-oscillator

A classical oscillator of amplitude has energy . Comparing with the oscillator spacing gives the large-occupation scale displayed. A coherent state with this classical amplitude has exactly this mean excitation occupation and a Poisson number distribution; its total mean energy also includes the zero-point term. An observed macroscopic amplitude does not, by itself, establish a pure coherent state.

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