arXiv:0704.3796 · Physical Review A
Coherent control of broadband vacuum squeezing
S. Chelkowski, H. Vahlbruch, K. Danzmann, Roman Schnabel
Abstract
We present the observation of optical fields carrying squeezed vacuum states at sideband frequencies from $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$ to above $35\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}$. The field was generated with type-I optical parametric oscillation below threshold at $1064\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. A coherent, unbalanced classical modulation field at $40\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}$ enabled the generation of error signals for stable phase control of the squeezed vacuum field with respect to a strong local oscillator. Broadband squeezing of approximately $\ensuremath{-}4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{dB}$ was measured with balanced homodyne detection. The spectrum of the squeezed field allows a quantum noise reduction of ground-based gravitational wave detectors over their full detection band, regardless of whether homodyne readout or radio-frequency heterodyne readout is used.