© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

Physical Review A

Light intensity-voltage correlations and leakage-current excess noise in a single-mode semiconductor laser

Isabelle Maurin, Игорь Евгеньевич Проценко, Jean‐Pierre Hermier, Alberto Bramati, Philippe Grangier, E. Giacobino

Published Sep 27, 2005• 6 citations

Abstract

Semiconductor lasers are particularly well suited for the implementation of pump-noise suppression, yielding a reduction of the intensity noise in the laser. In this simple picture, the maximal amount of squeezing is equal to the quantum efficiency. However, experimental results on intensity noise reduction by pump-noise suppression are usually above this limit. This discrepancy suggests that additional noise sources must be involved. Here we successfuly interpret the full noise behavior of a single-mode laser diode far above threshold by considering two excess noise sources: the leakage current fluctuations across the laser and the Petermann excess noise. We have estimated the contribution of each noise source using the results of the correlations between the laser output intensity noise and the voltage fluctuations across the laser diode (light-voltage correlations) and obtained good agreement between our theory and experimental results.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.72.033823

Related papers

Quantum correlation between longitudinal-mode intensities in a multimode squeezed semiconductor laser

Shuichiro Inoue, Hitoshi Ohzu, Susumu Machida +1 more

The intensity-noise properties of a constant-current-driven multimode semiconductor laser were studied theoretically and experimentally. It was shown that the total intensity noise of a pump-noise-suppressed multimode semiconductor laser was reduced to below the standard quantum limit even though the intensity noise of each individual mode had large excess intensity noise. This discovery stems from negative quantum correlations between longitudinal-mode intensities.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1992•81 citations

Spectrally asymmetric mode correlation and intensity noise in pump-noise-suppressed laser diodes

Christoph Becher, Edeltraud Gehrig, Klaus J. Boller

We report on the experimental observation of a spectrally asymmetric quantum correlation between the intensities of the main mode and a large number of weakly excited side modes in a pump-noise-suppressed laser diode. The total intensity noise of the laser diode results from a generally incomplete cancellation process between these mode intensities, which influences the generation of amplitude squeezed light. Nonlinear gain due to cross mode gain saturation in the semiconductor lasing medium is found to be the origin of the asymmetric intensity noise distribution between short- and long-wavelength side modes. The experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions of a multimode Langevin rate equation model including asymmetric nonlinear gain saturation.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1998•28 citations

Feedback control of laser intensity noise

B. C. Buchler, Elanor H. Huntington, C. C. Harb +1 more

A fully quantum-mechanical model of feedback to the pump source of a four-level laser is developed with a view to predicting the achievable intensity noise reduction. For solid-state lasers, the model shows that quantum noise sources due to laser dynamics have a significant impact on the optimization of the feedback loop. Experimental results obtained with a diode pumped neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical model. The ultimate limit to the noise suppression comes from the quantum noise due to the measurement processes in the feedback loop. A scheme to overcome this limit using a squeezed vacuum is theoretically demonstrated to be a highly efficient method of generating bright intensity squeezed light, particularly in the kHz regime where bright squeezing is otherwise difficult to obtain.

Physical Review A•Feb 1, 1998•40 citations

Use of quantum correlation for intensity noise reduction in semiconductor lasers

Anders Karlsson, Gunnar G. Bjork

The quantum correlation between junction voltage fluctuations1/frequency fluctuations2 and the intensity fluctuations of a semiconductor laser may be used to reduce the intensity noise. Here we address squeezed-state generation discussing both fundamental and practical limitations on noise reduction in conventional semiconductor lasers and microcavity lasers. In conventional semiconductor lasers, starting with intensity noise at the standard quantum limit, ideally a 3-dB amplitude squeezing is possible. This fundamental limit is set by spontaneous emission noise. Another fundamental limit is that noise reduction beyond the level set by optical losses and pump noise is not possible. It is also shown that the number-phase uncertainty in some conditions can reach the ultimate limit set by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. These conditions are clarified and a comparison made between junction voltage and frequency noise feedforward. Feedforward schemes realizing intensity noise reduction are discussed.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1991•0 citations

Quantum-noise reduction in semiconductor lasers

A. Jann, Y. Ben-Aryeh

A second-order correlation function approach is adopted to focus on the mechanism for generating amplitude-squeezed light in a semiconductor diode laser pumped with suppressed amplitude fluctuations. Second-order correlation functions between the electromagnetic field intensities and between the electromagnetic field intensities and the charge carrier numbers are calculated. Sub-Poissonian statistics and antibunching effects inside the laser cavity are analyzed; the analysis focuses on various quantities responsible for generating this state of the field. The influence of these quantities on the noise spectra of the detected field and conditions for quantum-noise reduction are considered.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•May 1, 1996•14 citations

Critical Petermann K Factor for Intensity Noise Squeezing

A. M. van der Lee, N. J. van Druten, Martin P. van Exter +3 more

We investigate the impact of the Petermann-excess-noise factor K>/=1 on the possibility of intensity noise squeezing of laser light below the standard quantum limit. Using an N-mode model, we show that squeezing is limited to a floor level of 2(K-1) times the shot noise limit. Thus, even a modest Petermann factor significantly impedes squeezing, which becomes impossible when K>/=1.5. This appears as a serious limitation for obtaining sub-shot-noise light from practical semiconductor lasers. We present experimental evidence for our theory.

Physical Review Letters•Nov 27, 2000•22 citations

Semiconductor lasers are particularly well suited for the implementation of pump-noise suppression, yielding a reduction of the intensity noise in the laser. In this simple picture, the maximal amount of squeezing is equal to the quantum efficiency. However, experimental results on intensity noise reduction by pump-noise suppression are usually above this limit. This discrepancy suggests that additional noise sources must be involved. Here we successfuly interpret the full noise behavior of a single-mode laser diode far above threshold by considering two excess noise sources: the leakage current fluctuations across the laser and the Petermann excess noise. We have estimated the contribution of each noise source using the results of the correlations between the laser output intensity noise and the voltage fluctuations across the laser diode (light-voltage correlations) and obtained good agreement between our theory and experimental results.

We report on the experimental observation of a spectrally asymmetric quantum correlation between the intensities of the main mode and a large number of weakly excited side modes in a pump-noise-suppressed laser diode. The total intensity noise of the laser diode results from a generally incomplete cancellation process between these mode intensities, which influences the generation of amplitude squeezed light. Nonlinear gain due to cross mode gain saturation in the semiconductor lasing medium is found to be the origin of the asymmetric intensity noise distribution between short- and long-wavelength side modes. The experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions of a multimode Langevin rate equation model including asymmetric nonlinear gain saturation.

A fully quantum-mechanical model of feedback to the pump source of a four-level laser is developed with a view to predicting the achievable intensity noise reduction. For solid-state lasers, the model shows that quantum noise sources due to laser dynamics have a significant impact on the optimization of the feedback loop. Experimental results obtained with a diode pumped neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical model. The ultimate limit to the noise suppression comes from the quantum noise due to the measurement processes in the feedback loop. A scheme to overcome this limit using a squeezed vacuum is theoretically demonstrated to be a highly efficient method of generating bright intensity squeezed light, particularly in the kHz regime where bright squeezing is otherwise difficult to obtain.

The quantum correlation between junction voltage fluctuations1/frequency fluctuations2 and the intensity fluctuations of a semiconductor laser may be used to reduce the intensity noise. Here we address squeezed-state generation discussing both fundamental and practical limitations on noise reduction in conventional semiconductor lasers and microcavity lasers. In conventional semiconductor lasers, starting with intensity noise at the standard quantum limit, ideally a 3-dB amplitude squeezing is possible. This fundamental limit is set by spontaneous emission noise. Another fundamental limit is that noise reduction beyond the level set by optical losses and pump noise is not possible. It is also shown that the number-phase uncertainty in some conditions can reach the ultimate limit set by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. These conditions are clarified and a comparison made between junction voltage and frequency noise feedforward. Feedforward schemes realizing intensity noise reduction are discussed.

A second-order correlation function approach is adopted to focus on the mechanism for generating amplitude-squeezed light in a semiconductor diode laser pumped with suppressed amplitude fluctuations. Second-order correlation functions between the electromagnetic field intensities and between the electromagnetic field intensities and the charge carrier numbers are calculated. Sub-Poissonian statistics and antibunching effects inside the laser cavity are analyzed; the analysis focuses on various quantities responsible for generating this state of the field. The influence of these quantities on the noise spectra of the detected field and conditions for quantum-noise reduction are considered.

We investigate the impact of the Petermann-excess-noise factor K>/=1 on the possibility of intensity noise squeezing of laser light below the standard quantum limit. Using an N-mode model, we show that squeezing is limited to a floor level of 2(K-1) times the shot noise limit. Thus, even a modest Petermann factor significantly impedes squeezing, which becomes impossible when K>/=1.5. This appears as a serious limitation for obtaining sub-shot-noise light from practical semiconductor lasers. We present experimental evidence for our theory.