We experimentally reconstruct Wigner's quantum phase current for the first time. Using an optical parametric oscillator, coupled to the environment, at varying pump powers, allows us to directly observe signatures of quantum phase space dynamics for the creation of squeezed states. Our approach allows identifying pure squeezing dynamics as well as dissipation and decoherence currents. The central stagnation point of the current shows a topological charge of -1, this is generic for the dynamics of squeezer setups. This work establishes a novel experimental paradigm for measuring quantumness and non-classicality of the dynamics of a quantum system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.