Generation of non-classical light in a photon-number superposition

Generating light in a pure quantum state is essential for advancing optical quantum technologies. However, controlling its photon number remains elusive. Optical fields with zero and one photon can be produced by single atoms, but, so far, this has been limited to generating incoherent mixtures or coherent superpositions with a very small one-photon term. Here, we report the on-demand generation of quantum superpositions of zero, one and two photons via coherent control of an artificial atom. Driving the system up to full atomic inversion leads to quantum superpositions of vacuum and one photon, with their relative populations controlled by the driving laser intensity. A stronger driving of the system, with 2π pulses, results in a coherent superposition of vacuum, one and two photons, with the two-photon term exceeding the one-photon component, a state allowing phase super-resolving interferometry. Our results open new paths for optical quantum technologies with access to the photon-number degree of freedom.