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Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Nonclassical number-phase correlation in semiconductor lasers

Buchanan J. Rouse, Daniel C. Kilper

Published Jan 1, 2000• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Summary form only given. Optical phase is conjugate to the photon-number in quantum optics and therefore is important for nonclassical states in which the photon-number operator is reduced below the semiclassical shot noise limit, i.e., for photon-number squeezed states. Nonclassical emission from semiconductor lasers has the added facet that excess phase fluctuations are correlated with fluctuations in the photon-number through the nonlinear gain, and this correlation extends below shot noise. In this experiment, quantum-limited number-phase correlations are examined using an external-cavity semiconductor laser with heavily suppressed (>40 dB) side modes and near ideal single-mode laser characteristics. A feedforward gain matching condition is found to limit the observation of a strong nonclassical effect.

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Summary form only given. Optical phase is conjugate to the photon-number in quantum optics and therefore is important for nonclassical states in which the photon-number operator is reduced below the semiclassical shot noise limit, i.e., for photon-number squeezed states. Nonclassical emission from semiconductor lasers has the added facet that excess phase fluctuations are correlated with fluctuations in the photon-number through the nonlinear gain, and this correlation extends below shot noise. In this experiment, quantum-limited number-phase correlations are examined using an external-cavity semiconductor laser with heavily suppressed (>40 dB) side modes and near ideal single-mode laser characteristics. A feedforward gain matching condition is found to limit the observation of a strong nonclassical effect.
In this dissertation measurements are presented that extend our understanding of the important noise processes involved in the semiconductor laser generation of photon-number squeezed light. Strong sub-shot noise correlations between photon-number fluctuations on orthogonal polarization axes are observed in the output of a low temperature injection-locked quantum-well laser. Such polarization dependent effects are accounted for by intrinsic correlations generated in the laser gain medium and polarization mixing due to birefringence. Using polarization preserving balanced homodyne detection, up to 4.5 dB of photon-number squeezing is reported, which is within 95% of the expected maximum squeezing based on the device quantum efficiency. The work in this dissertation demonstrates the application of such nonclassical fields to practical measurements that achieve sub-shot noise sensitivity. Coherent nonlinear optical spectroscopy with a photon-number squeezed probe field is used to measure the Urbach tail and exciton resonances in a GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well with sensitivity below the semiclassical shot-noise limit. Direct drive current modulation of an injection-locked room temperature laser results in a nonclassical amplitude modulated field with a signal to noise ratio that exceeds the maximum ratio permitted for a classical source under equivalent modulation conditions.
Both the junction voltage fluctuations and the frequency fluctuations of a semiconductor laser are highly correlated with its intensity noise. We analyze three schemes where the correlation information is used to reduce the intensity noise. In conventional semiconductor lasers, starting with intensity noise at the standard quantum limit, ideally 3-dB amplitude squeezing is possible. The influence of nonideal factors such as parasitics for junction voltage feedforward and the linewidth floor for frequency noise feedforward are discussed. It is shown that under certain conditions the number-phase uncertainty can reach the ultimate limit set by Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. These conditions are clarified, and examples are given for both conventional semiconductor lasers and microcavity lasers.
Amplitude noise spectra from the nonclassical output of an injection-locked low-temperature quantum-well laser analyzed along orthogonal polarization axes reveals correlated polarization-dependent noise. Using polarization-preserving balanced homodyne detection to suppress these effects, we demonstrate photon-number fluctuations 4.5 dB below the semiclassical shot-noise limit (within 95% of the expected squeezing based on the device efficiency). Polarization mixing through birefringent components and, more significantly, correlated fluctuations originating in the laser gain medium are shown to account for the observations.
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.
Electromagnetic fields, with the noise on one quadrature component reduced to below the quantum mechanical zero-point fluctuation level and the noise on the other quadrature component enhanced to above it, are currently of great interest in quantum optics because of their potential applications to various precision measurements. Such squeezed states of light are usually produced by imposing nonlinear unitary evolution on coherent (or vacuum) states. On the other hand, squeezed states with reduced photon number noise and enhanced phase noise are generated directly by a constant current-driven semiconductor laser. This is the simplest scheme for the generation of nonclassical light, and so far it has yielded the largest quantum noise reduction. The mutual coupling between a lasing junction and an external electrical circuit provides opportunities for exploring the macroscopic and microscopic quantum effects in open systems.