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Physical Review Letters

Noiseless Optical Amplification of Images

Sang-Kyung Choi, Michael Vasilyev, Prem Kumar

Published Sep 6, 1999• 135 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.83.1938

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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≃2.5\ensuremath{\simeq}2.5\ensuremath≃2.5, we measured noise-figure values of ( 0.2\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.60.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.60.2\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.6) and ( 0.4\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.50.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.50.4\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.5) 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.
Summary form only given. Optical imaging is one of the important potential applications for nonclassic states of light. It has been shown that spatially broadband squeezed light can be used to image faint objects with sub-shot-noise sensitivity. Broad spatial bandwidth of an optical parametric amplifier (OPA), determined by phase-matching conditions, makes it a good choice for studying the feasibility of imaging with nonclassic states. Here, we report, to our knowledge, the first observation of noiseless amplification of an image by means of phase-sensitive parametric amplification.
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 experimentally demonstrate that a type-II pulsed optical parametric amplifier operated in a phase-insensitive configuration works as a near-perfect classical optical amplifier whose noise figure approaches 3 dB at high gains. We further demonstrate that, when operated in a phase-sensitive configuration, this amplifier works as a quantum-optical amplifier whose noise figure goes below 3 dB and approaches 0 dB at high gains. The noise figure of 1.45 ± 0.2 dB, measured for a gain of 9 dB, is clearly in the quantum regime.