From quantum feedback to probabilistic error correction: manipulation of quantum beats in cavity QED

It is shown how one can implement quantum feedback and probabilistic error correction in an open quantum system consisting of a single atom, with ground- and excited-state Zeeman structure, in a driven two-mode optical cavity. The ground-state superposition is manipulated and controlled through conditional measurements and external fields, which shield the coherence and correct quantum errors. Modeling an experimentally realistic situation demonstrates the robustness of the proposal for realization in the laboratory.