Experiments on entangled atom-cavity states: "Schrodinger cats" and other tests of quantum theory

Various experiments on entangled atomcavity states in cavity QED will be presented. Rydberg atoms can be coupled to a superconducting cavity either resonantly by emitting and absorbing photons, or nonresonantly, by producing a macroscopic phase shift on a coherent field injected in the cavity (single atom dispersive index effect). By sending atoms one at a time across the cavity, it is possible to use these resonant and dispersive effects to entangle atoms with each other or with the cavity field.