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Journal of Modern Optics

Optical amplification at the quantum limit

Ulrik L. Andersen, Gerd Leuchs

Published Nov 10, 2007• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper we evaluate experimentally measured signal-to-noise ratio performance of different types of optical amplifiers [V. Josse, M. Sabuncu, N. Cerf, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 163602 (2006); Z.Y. Ou, S.F. Pereira and H.J. Kimble, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70 3239 (1993)]. We pay particular attention to the low gain regime where the quantum limit of the amplifier varies with gain. Independent of the amplifier type the noise performance is remarkably close to the quantum limit. Low gain optical amplifiers are of interest for quantum communication.

DOI
10.1080/09500340701639599

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In this paper we evaluate experimentally measured signal-to-noise ratio performance of different types of optical amplifiers [V. Josse, M. Sabuncu, N. Cerf, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 163602 (2006); Z.Y. Ou, S.F. Pereira and H.J. Kimble, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70 3239 (1993)]. We pay particular attention to the low gain regime where the quantum limit of the amplifier varies with gain. Independent of the amplifier type the noise performance is remarkably close to the quantum limit. Low gain optical amplifiers are of interest for quantum communication.
In this paper, we present the results of our theoretical and experimental studies of the noise properties of optical amplifiers that operate by means of nonlinear optical gain processes. We pay particular attention to amplifiers that utilize the nonlinear optical response of strongly driven atomic vapors, and we compare the results of our measurements with theoretical predictions for the quantum noise limit of an optical amplifier. Our work focuses on optical amplifiers that utilize the nonlinear optical response of atomic vapors.>
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The concept of noise figure F and noise measure M applicable to radio frequency and microwave amplifiers is reviewed and extended to cover optical amplifiers. Two noise figures are defined in the optical regime: one gives the ASE output, while the other gives the ratio of signal-to-noise ratios at the input and output. In the quantum regime, the lower limit on these optimum values is set by a generalization of Heisenberg's uncertainty relation. A Raman back-pumped fiber link with post-amplification with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier is used to illustrate the use of noise measure.
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