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

Physical Review Letters

Squeezed-light generation with an incoherent pump

Prem Kumar, Orhan Aytür, Jianming Huang

Published Feb 1, 1990• 76 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report generating squeezed light via parametric down conversion of a Q-switched and frequency-doubled multi-longitudinal-mode Nd-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. A local oscillator with appropriate temporal incoherence is needed to homodyne detect the generated squeezed light. As a first approximation, we derive the local-oscillator beam from the same multimode laser whose harmonic is used to pump the parametric down-conversion process. 0.08\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 dB of squeezing is routinely observed.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.64.1015

Related papers

Partially coherent squeezed light: generation and detection

Prem Kumar, Orhan Aytür

Squeezed light with partial coherence is generated via optical parametric amplification (OPA) in a KTiOPO4 crystal that is pumped by the second harmonic of a Q-switched multimode Nd:YAG laser.1 More than 1 dB of squeezing is observed when a proper mode of the downconverted light is homodyned with the 380-ns multilongitudinal-mode local oscillator (LO) pulse. In such a system, large OPA gain is easily obtained in a single-crystal signal-pass setup. The detection of squeezed light is, however, not straightforward. In the usual implementation of a balanced homodyne detection scheme,2 the vacuum-noise level, as measured on a radio frequency spectrum analyzer, is determined by the average LO power. If the LO is derived from a Q-switched laser, as is the case in our experiment, the associated peak power can easily saturate the detectors and the subsequent electronics. To overcome this limitation, we have implemented a hybrid frequency/time domain measurement scheme in which the vacuum noise level is determined by the peak (instead of the average) LO power. The LO average power requirement is thus relaxed and the detector saturation problem avoided.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1989•0 citations

Pulsed squeezed light with an incoherent pump: theoretical analysis

Jianming Huang, Prem Kumar, Orhan Aytür

We present a theoretical study of the generation and detection of incoherent squeezed light via optical parametric downconversion of a frequency doubled Q-switched multimode Nd:YAG laser.1 Our analysis begins by writing the plane-polarized output field of a Q-switched multimode laser as.

•May 21, 1990•0 citations

Squeezed-light generation with a mode-locked Q-switched laser and detection by using a matched local oscillator

Orhan Aytür, Prem Kumar

We report pulsed squeezed-light generation by means of an optical parametric downconverter that is pumped by the second harmonic of a mode-locked Q-switched laser. Using the fundamental beam of the laser as a local oscillator, we observe 2-dB squeezing for a parametric gain of 2.0. This local oscillator, however, is nonoptimal because of its spatiotemporal mode mismatch with the squeezed mode generated by the downconverter. We describe an experiment in which a matched local oscillator is generated with the use of an optical parametric amplifier that is pumped by the same laser as is the downconverter. In this case, 2-dB squeezing is observed for a parametric gain of 1.5. The present experimental setup is limited by the uncontrollable phase fluctuations that prohibit us from making squeezing measurements at higher parametric gains.

Optics Letters•Apr 1, 1992•43 citations

Temporally Incoherent Twin Beams of Light

Orhan Aytür, Prem Kumar

Temporally incoherent twin beams of light are generated by means of an optical parametric amplifier that is pumped by the second harmonic of a Q-switched multi-longitudinal-mode Nd:YAG laser. For a parametric gain of 1·12, the intensity noise levels on the direct-detected signal and idler twin beams are found to be correlated by 1·4 dB, whereas the subtracted noise falls below the quantum limit by 0·7 ± 0·1 dB (15%). Although no direct coherence experiment is performed on the twin beams themselves, their temporal incoherence is manifested by the stringent path-length matching requirement between the pump and input signal beams.

Journal of Modern Optics•May 1, 1991•1 citation

Experimental Generation and Characterization of Multimode Squeezed Light in a Synchronously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator

Edoardo Suerra, Francesco Canella, Dario Giannotti +3 more

Multimode squeezed light is a key resource for quantum technologies, enabling applications in boson sampling, quantum networks, and optical quantum computation [1],[2]. Parametric down-conversion in synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (SPOPOs) offers a versatile platform for generating multimode squeezed states across the time-frequency domain. In these systems, supermodes manifest as independent quantum states in the temporal domain and as frequency combs in the spectral domain [3]. Precise control of these states is crucial for quantum applications and requires an experimental setup capable of fine-tuning multiple parameters to optimize squeezing properties. In this work, we present an experimental setup for generating and characterizing multimode vacuum squeezed states using a SPOPO and a balanced homodyne detection scheme. Two spatial light modulators (SLMs) placed on the pump and local oscillator (LO) beams provide full control over their spectral properties, including amplitude and phase shaping. This flexibility allows us to optimize the experimental conditions and investigate squeezing dependence on key parameters such as the LO spectral detuning and bandwidth. By introducing a programmable$\pi$-phase shift to the LO via the SLM, we selectively probe the multimode structure, distinguishing between even and odd supermodes. Additionally, the SLM on the pump can introduce an arbitrary chirp, further enhancing control over the system. Our setup, schematized in Figure 1a, is based on a commercial mode-locked Yb-fiber laser operating at 93MHz, emitting pulses centered at 1035nm with a 10nm bandwidth. A portion of the radiation is frequency-doubled to 517.5nm via an LBO crystal to serve as the pump for the SPOPO, while the remaining part is used as the LO for homodyne detection after transmission through the SPOPO cavity, ensuring high beam quality. The SPOPO cavity is frequency-locked to the laser via a Pound-Drever-Hall technique, ensuring stable and optimized operation. Figure 1b presents representative measurements of squeezing levels as a function of the LO spectral bandwidth, showing how its symmetric or antisymmetric phase influences the detection of different supermodes and, consequently, the squeezing level depending on their structure. The measurements were performed using lithium niobate (LNB) nonlinear crystals of 3.0mm and 1.5mm lengths. Our setup allows for future investigations of dispersion effects on squeezing, thus far only theoretically predicted [4], by introducing chirped mirrors for dispersion compensation. Moreover, different nonlinear crystals, such as lithium niobate, beta barium borate (BBO), and lithium triborate (LBO) of various lengths, will be tested to explore the multimode properties of the squeezed states. These investigations will provide insights into the experimental conditions required to achieve single-mode squeezing, crucial for applications such as Gaussian Boson Sampling, with results to be presented at the conference.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 23, 2025•0 citations

Quantum-noise reduction with a Q-switched laser

Orhan Aytür, Prem Kumar

Pulsed squeezed light and intensity-correlated twin beams are generated by means of a traveling-wave optical parametric amplifier (OPA) consisting of a type-II phase-matched KTiOPO4 crystal that is pumped by a Q-switched and frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. Q switching of the laser results in a high peak pump intensity and a large peak parametric gain. Squeezed light is generated by amplifying the vacuum input field to the OPA, and it is detected by a balanced homodyne configuration that uses the fundamental beam of the laser as a local oscillator.1 Twin beams are generated by supplying a small input signal to the OPA. The amplified signal and idler beams are direct-detected individually and yield quantum-noise reduction when the two photocurrents are subtracted.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations
We report generating squeezed light via parametric down conversion of a Q-switched and frequency-doubled multi-longitudinal-mode Nd-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. A local oscillator with appropriate temporal incoherence is needed to homodyne detect the generated squeezed light. As a first approximation, we derive the local-oscillator beam from the same multimode laser whose harmonic is used to pump the parametric down-conversion process. 0.08\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 dB of squeezing is routinely observed.
Squeezed light with partial coherence is generated via optical parametric amplification (OPA) in a KTiOPO4 crystal that is pumped by the second harmonic of a Q-switched multimode Nd:YAG laser.1 More than 1 dB of squeezing is observed when a proper mode of the downconverted light is homodyned with the 380-ns multilongitudinal-mode local oscillator (LO) pulse. In such a system, large OPA gain is easily obtained in a single-crystal signal-pass setup. The detection of squeezed light is, however, not straightforward. In the usual implementation of a balanced homodyne detection scheme,2 the vacuum-noise level, as measured on a radio frequency spectrum analyzer, is determined by the average LO power. If the LO is derived from a Q-switched laser, as is the case in our experiment, the associated peak power can easily saturate the detectors and the subsequent electronics. To overcome this limitation, we have implemented a hybrid frequency/time domain measurement scheme in which the vacuum noise level is determined by the peak (instead of the average) LO power. The LO average power requirement is thus relaxed and the detector saturation problem avoided.
We report pulsed squeezed-light generation by means of an optical parametric downconverter that is pumped by the second harmonic of a mode-locked Q-switched laser. Using the fundamental beam of the laser as a local oscillator, we observe 2-dB squeezing for a parametric gain of 2.0. This local oscillator, however, is nonoptimal because of its spatiotemporal mode mismatch with the squeezed mode generated by the downconverter. We describe an experiment in which a matched local oscillator is generated with the use of an optical parametric amplifier that is pumped by the same laser as is the downconverter. In this case, 2-dB squeezing is observed for a parametric gain of 1.5. The present experimental setup is limited by the uncontrollable phase fluctuations that prohibit us from making squeezing measurements at higher parametric gains.
Temporally incoherent twin beams of light are generated by means of an optical parametric amplifier that is pumped by the second harmonic of a Q-switched multi-longitudinal-mode Nd:YAG laser. For a parametric gain of 1·12, the intensity noise levels on the direct-detected signal and idler twin beams are found to be correlated by 1·4 dB, whereas the subtracted noise falls below the quantum limit by 0·7 ± 0·1 dB (15%). Although no direct coherence experiment is performed on the twin beams themselves, their temporal incoherence is manifested by the stringent path-length matching requirement between the pump and input signal beams.
Multimode squeezed light is a key resource for quantum technologies, enabling applications in boson sampling, quantum networks, and optical quantum computation [1],[2]. Parametric down-conversion in synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (SPOPOs) offers a versatile platform for generating multimode squeezed states across the time-frequency domain. In these systems, supermodes manifest as independent quantum states in the temporal domain and as frequency combs in the spectral domain [3]. Precise control of these states is crucial for quantum applications and requires an experimental setup capable of fine-tuning multiple parameters to optimize squeezing properties. In this work, we present an experimental setup for generating and characterizing multimode vacuum squeezed states using a SPOPO and a balanced homodyne detection scheme. Two spatial light modulators (SLMs) placed on the pump and local oscillator (LO) beams provide full control over their spectral properties, including amplitude and phase shaping. This flexibility allows us to optimize the experimental conditions and investigate squeezing dependence on key parameters such as the LO spectral detuning and bandwidth. By introducing a programmableπ\piπ-phase shift to the LO via the SLM, we selectively probe the multimode structure, distinguishing between even and odd supermodes. Additionally, the SLM on the pump can introduce an arbitrary chirp, further enhancing control over the system. Our setup, schematized in Figure 1a, is based on a commercial mode-locked Yb-fiber laser operating at 93MHz, emitting pulses centered at 1035nm with a 10nm bandwidth. A portion of the radiation is frequency-doubled to 517.5nm via an LBO crystal to serve as the pump for the SPOPO, while the remaining part is used as the LO for homodyne detection after transmission through the SPOPO cavity, ensuring high beam quality. The SPOPO cavity is frequency-locked to the laser via a Pound-Drever-Hall technique, ensuring stable and optimized operation. Figure 1b presents representative measurements of squeezing levels as a function of the LO spectral bandwidth, showing how its symmetric or antisymmetric phase influences the detection of different supermodes and, consequently, the squeezing level depending on their structure. The measurements were performed using lithium niobate (LNB) nonlinear crystals of 3.0mm and 1.5mm lengths. Our setup allows for future investigations of dispersion effects on squeezing, thus far only theoretically predicted [4], by introducing chirped mirrors for dispersion compensation. Moreover, different nonlinear crystals, such as lithium niobate, beta barium borate (BBO), and lithium triborate (LBO) of various lengths, will be tested to explore the multimode properties of the squeezed states. These investigations will provide insights into the experimental conditions required to achieve single-mode squeezing, crucial for applications such as Gaussian Boson Sampling, with results to be presented at the conference.
Pulsed squeezed light and intensity-correlated twin beams are generated by means of a traveling-wave optical parametric amplifier (OPA) consisting of a type-II phase-matched KTiOPO4 crystal that is pumped by a Q-switched and frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. Q switching of the laser results in a high peak pump intensity and a large peak parametric gain. Squeezed light is generated by amplifying the vacuum input field to the OPA, and it is detected by a balanced homodyne configuration that uses the fundamental beam of the laser as a local oscillator.1 Twin beams are generated by supplying a small input signal to the OPA. The amplified signal and idler beams are direct-detected individually and yield quantum-noise reduction when the two photocurrents are subtracted.