Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Quantum fluctuation in traveling-wave amplification of optical images

I. V. Sokolov, Mikhail I. Kolobov, Luigi A. Lugiato

Published Feb 25, 1999• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate amplification of optical images by means of a traveling-wave optical parametric amplifier. As shown recently by Kolobov and Lugiato [Phys. Rev. A 52, 4930 (1995)] for a cavity-based geometry, such a scheme can amplify images, without deteriorating their sign-to-noise ratio, thus working as a noiseless amplifier. Here we consider a configuration without cavity, which is more realistic for a possible experimental realization. We investigate in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. The spatial resolution power, which guarantees noiseless amplification is estimated. We demonstrate how the optimum phase matching of a phase-sensitive wavefront of the image can improve the noise performance of the amplifier and bring it to the ultimate value achievable under given physical conditions. We discuss the effect of improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio in the case of observation of both the input and the amplified image, with an ideal photodetector of small area (i.e., much less than the coherence area of the amplifier). This improvement is due to the fact that the signal-to-noise ratio in the input is deteriorated by the observation with the photodetector of small area.

DOI
10.1117/12.340106

Related papers

Quantum fluctuations in traveling-wave amplification of optical images

I. V. Sokolov, Mikhail I. Kolobov, Luigi Lugiato

We investigate amplification of optical images by means of a traveling-wave optical parametric amplifier. As shown recently for a cavity-based geometry, such a scheme can amplify images without deteriorating their signal-to-noise ratio thus working as a noiseless amplifier. Here we consider a configuration without cavity, which is more realistic for a possible experimental realization. We study in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. We investigate physical features of noiseless amplification, which take place for both traveling-wave and ring-cavity configurations. We demonstrate how the optimum phase matching of a phase-sensitive wave front of an image (by means of a thin lens or a small displacement of the crystal) can improve the noise performance of the amplifier and bring it to the ultimate value achievable under given physical conditions. We discuss the possibility of using detectors with the area much smaller than the area of the input image elements. We compare our results with those obtained for the ring-cavity configuration.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1999•35 citations

Traveling-Wave Noiseless Amplification of Optical Images

Mikhail I. Kolobov, I. V. Sokolov, Luigi Lugiato

We consider a traveling-wave version of a ring-cavity noiseless amplifier of optical images, proposed recently. 1 This modification, on the one hand, is more realistic for the practical implementations, on the other hand, has several advantages over the cavity-based scheme, such as greater spatial bandwidth. We investigate in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. We also estimate the spatial resolving power of noiseless amplification.

Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks•Dec 19, 2005•0 citations

Traveling-wave noiseless amplifications of optical images

Mikhail I. Kolobov, I. V. Sokolov, L. A. Lugiato

We consider a traveling-wave version of a ring-cavity noiseless amplifier of optical images, proposed recently.1 This modification, on the one hand, is more realistic for the practical implementations, on the other hand, has several advantages over the cavity-based scheme, such as greater spatial bandwidth. We investigate in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. We also estimate the spatial resolving power of noiseless amplification.

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Aug 24, 2005•0 citations

Observation of Noiseless Image Amplification by an Optical Parametric Amplifier

Sang-Kyung Choi, Michael Vasilyev, Prem Kumar

A spatially-broadband optical parametric amplifier is used for image amplification. In the phase-sensitive configuration, we observe a noise figure of −0.1± 0.3dB for a gain of 2.4, which is 2dB lower than the quantum limit for an ideal phase-insensitive amplifier. Image pre-amplification before loss is shown to improve the detected signal-to-noise ratio.

Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks•Dec 19, 2005•1 citation

Noiseless Optical Amplification of Images

Sang-Kyung Choi, Michael Vasilyev, Prem Kumar

We used a spatially broadband optical parametric amplifier for image amplification. In the phase-sensitive configuration of the amplifier, we observed noiseless amplification of input images. For a gain of $\ensuremath{\simeq}2.5$, we measured noise-figure values of ( $0.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6$) and ( $0.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5$) dB, respectively, for two amplifiers of different lengths. These experimental values agree with theory (for an ideal noiseless amplifier the noise figure is 0 dB) and are almost 2 dB lower than the quantum limit of an ideal phase-insensitive amplifier.

Physical Review Letters•Sep 6, 1999•135 citations

Noiseless amplification of optical images

Mikhail I. Kolobov, Luigi Lugiato

We propose a scheme for amplification of faint optical images with coherent light which preserves the signal-to-noise ratio in the image. The scheme consists of a ring-cavity optical parametric amplifier as an active element and two imaging lenses. This system can amplify images either ``point by point,'' when a small region is amplified at a time, or by narrow rings, depending on its operation; in both cases it works as an image scanner. We have evaluated the inherent noise of this amplification scheme which has its physical origin in the phenomenon of spontaneous parametric radiation. This noise gives a lower ultimate limit for the intensity of the image that can be noiselessly amplified by our scheme. We have estimated spatial resolution of the scheme and formulated criteria for its noiseless operation.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1995•65 citations
We investigate amplification of optical images by means of a traveling-wave optical parametric amplifier. As shown recently by Kolobov and Lugiato [Phys. Rev. A 52, 4930 (1995)] for a cavity-based geometry, such a scheme can amplify images, without deteriorating their sign-to-noise ratio, thus working as a noiseless amplifier. Here we consider a configuration without cavity, which is more realistic for a possible experimental realization. We investigate in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. The spatial resolution power, which guarantees noiseless amplification is estimated. We demonstrate how the optimum phase matching of a phase-sensitive wavefront of the image can improve the noise performance of the amplifier and bring it to the ultimate value achievable under given physical conditions. We discuss the effect of improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio in the case of observation of both the input and the amplified image, with an ideal photodetector of small area (i.e., much less than the coherence area of the amplifier). This improvement is due to the fact that the signal-to-noise ratio in the input is deteriorated by the observation with the photodetector of small area.
We investigate amplification of optical images by means of a traveling-wave optical parametric amplifier. As shown recently for a cavity-based geometry, such a scheme can amplify images without deteriorating their signal-to-noise ratio thus working as a noiseless amplifier. Here we consider a configuration without cavity, which is more realistic for a possible experimental realization. We study in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. We investigate physical features of noiseless amplification, which take place for both traveling-wave and ring-cavity configurations. We demonstrate how the optimum phase matching of a phase-sensitive wave front of an image (by means of a thin lens or a small displacement of the crystal) can improve the noise performance of the amplifier and bring it to the ultimate value achievable under given physical conditions. We discuss the possibility of using detectors with the area much smaller than the area of the input image elements. We compare our results with those obtained for the ring-cavity configuration.
We consider a traveling-wave version of a ring-cavity noiseless amplifier of optical images, proposed recently. 1 This modification, on the one hand, is more realistic for the practical implementations, on the other hand, has several advantages over the cavity-based scheme, such as greater spatial bandwidth. We investigate in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. We also estimate the spatial resolving power of noiseless amplification.
We consider a traveling-wave version of a ring-cavity noiseless amplifier of optical images, proposed recently.1 This modification, on the one hand, is more realistic for the practical implementations, on the other hand, has several advantages over the cavity-based scheme, such as greater spatial bandwidth. We investigate in detail the quantum fluctuations of the amplifier and formulate criteria for its noiseless performance. We also estimate the spatial resolving power of noiseless amplification.
We used a spatially broadband optical parametric amplifier for image amplification. In the phase-sensitive configuration of the amplifier, we observed noiseless amplification of input images. For a gain of $\ensuremath{\simeq}2.5$, we measured noise-figure values of ( $0.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6$) and ( $0.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5$) dB, respectively, for two amplifiers of different lengths. These experimental values agree with theory (for an ideal noiseless amplifier the noise figure is 0 dB) and are almost 2 dB lower than the quantum limit of an ideal phase-insensitive amplifier.
We propose a scheme for amplification of faint optical images with coherent light which preserves the signal-to-noise ratio in the image. The scheme consists of a ring-cavity optical parametric amplifier as an active element and two imaging lenses. This system can amplify images either ``point by point,'' when a small region is amplified at a time, or by narrow rings, depending on its operation; in both cases it works as an image scanner. We have evaluated the inherent noise of this amplification scheme which has its physical origin in the phenomenon of spontaneous parametric radiation. This noise gives a lower ultimate limit for the intensity of the image that can be noiselessly amplified by our scheme. We have estimated spatial resolution of the scheme and formulated criteria for its noiseless operation.