Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Atomic spectroscopy with squeezed light for sensitivity beyond the vacuum-state limit

  • Applications
  • Published:
Applied Physics B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A frequency tunable source of squeezed light has been developed which is suitable for a variety of spectroscopic applications. In initial experiments continuous tunability over a range of 2 GHz has been achieved with a directly observed nonclassical noise reduction of 6 dB relative to the vacuum-state limit in a balanced homodyne detector. A process of light-induced absorption in the nonlinear crystal has been identified as the principal loss mechanism which prevents the observation of yet larger degrees of squeezing. Although our source is potentially broadly tunable over the range of wavelengths from 840 to 970 nm, the current research centers on the performance at 852 nm for spectroscopy of the D 2 line of atomic cesium. For frequency-modulated (FM) saturation spectroscopy in a vapor cell, an improvement of 3.1 dB in sensitivity relative to the usual quantum limit is demonstrated for the detection of Doppler-free resonances. When corrected for the thermal noise of the detector, the enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio brought by the squeezed field is 3.8 dB relative to the shot-noise limit set by the vacuum fluctuations of the probe field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G.T. Milburn: Optica Acta 31, 671 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  2. C.W. Gardiner: Phys. Rev. Lett. 56, 1917 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  3. H.J. Carmichael: A.S. Lane, D.F. Walls: Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 2539 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  4. H. Ritsch, P. Zoller: Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 1097 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  5. S. An, M. Sargent, D.F. Walls: Opt. Commun. 67, 373 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  6. A.S. Parkins, C.W. Gardiner: Phys. Rev. A 40, 2534 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  7. G.T. Milburn: Phys. Rev. A 34, 4882 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  8. C.M. Savage: Quantum Opt. 2, 89 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  9. G. S. Agarwal, S.D. Gupta: Phys. Rev. A 39, 2961 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  10. A.S. Parkins: Phys. Rev. A 42, 4532 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  11. A.S. Parkins, C.W. Gardiner: Phys. Rev. A 40, 3796 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  12. J.M. Courty, S. Reynaud: Europhys. Lett. 10, 237 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  13. P.R. Rice, L.M. Pedrotti: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B (1992)

  14. J. Gea-Banacloche: Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 543 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. A. M. Marte, H. Ritsch, D.F. Walls: Phys. Rev. A 38, 3577 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  16. C. Ginzel, R. Schack, A. Schenzle: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 8, 1704 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  17. T.A.B. Kennedy, D.F. Walls: Phys. Rev. A 42, 3051 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  18. P. Galatola, L.A. Lugiato, M.G. Porreca, P. Tombesi: Opt. Commun. 81, 175 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  19. M. Xiao, L.A. Wu, H.J. Kimble: Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 278 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  20. P. Grangier, R.E. Slusher, B. Yurke, A.La Porta: Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2153 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  21. M. Xiao, L.A. Wu, H.J. Kimble: Opt. Lett. 13, 476 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  22. B. Yurke, E.A. Whittaker: Opt. Lett. 12, 236 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  23. “Ultrasensitive Spectroscopy”: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2, 1427–1593 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  24. J.L. Hall, H.G. Robinson, T. Baer, L. Holberg: In Advances in Laser Spectroscopy, ed. by F.T. Arecchi, F. Strumia, H. Walther (Plenum, New York 1983) p. 99

    Google Scholar 

  25. G.C. Bjorklund, M.D. Levenson, W. Lenth, C. Ortiz: Appl. Phys. B 32, 145 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  26. L.A. Wu, M. Xiao, H.J. Kimble. J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4, 1465 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  27. M.J. Collett, C.W. Gardiner: Phys. Rev. A 30, 1386 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  28. M.J. Collett, D.F. Walls: Phys. Rev. A 32, 2887 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  29. H.J. Kimble: In Fundamental Systems in Quantum Optics, ed. by J. Dalibard, J.M. Raimond, J. Zinn-Justin (Elsevier, Amsterdam 1992)

    Google Scholar 

  30. H.P. Yuen, V.W.S. Chan: Opt. Lett. 8, 177 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  31. B.L. Schumaker: Opt. Lett. 9, 189 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  32. R.W.P. Drever, J.L. Hall, F.V. Kowalski, J. Hough, G.M. Ford, A.J. Munley, M. Ward: Appl. Phys. B 31, 97 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  33. E.S. Polzik H.J. Kimble: Opt. Lett. 16, 1400 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  34. L.A. Wu, H.J. Kimble: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2, 697 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  35. T. Kardos. Broomer Laboratories, Islip, NY

  36. R. Lalezari: PMS Electro-Optics, Boulder, CO

  37. G. Mizell: Virgo Optics, Port Richey, FL

  38. R.L. Byer: In Quantum Electronics: A Treatise, ed. by H. Rabin, C.L. Tang (Academic, New York 1975) Vol. 1, Part B, pp. 587

    Google Scholar 

  39. E.S. Polzik, H.J. Kimble: Technical Digest, Compact Blue-Green Laser Meeting, February 1992, Santa Fe, NM, paper ThD6

  40. A. Schenzle, R.G. Devoe, R. G. Brewer: Phys. Rev. A25, 2606 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  41. M.D. Levenson, S.S. Kano: In Introduction to Nonlinear Laser Spectroscopy (Academic, Boston 1988) Chap. 3

    Google Scholar 

  42. C.M. Caves: Phys. Rev. D 23, 1963 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  43. M. Gehrtz, G.C. Bjorkland, E.A. Whittaker: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2, 1510 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  44. N.C. Wong, J.L. Hall: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2, 1527 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  45. The electronics for the photodetectors were designed by J.L. Hall and fabricated by T. Brown at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, Boulder, CO

  46. J. Gea-Banacloche, G. Leuchs: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4, 1667 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  47. E.S. Polzik, J.C. Carri, H.J. Kimble: Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 3020 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics 12-33, California Institute of Technology, 91125, Pasadena, CA, USA

    E. S. Polzik, J. Carri & H. J. Kimble

Authors
  1. E. S. Polzik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Carri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. J. Kimble
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Polzik, E.S., Carri, J. & Kimble, H.J. Atomic spectroscopy with squeezed light for sensitivity beyond the vacuum-state limit. Appl. Phys. B 55, 279–290 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325016

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325016

PACS

Search

Navigation