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Applied Optics

Fast time-domain balanced homodyne detection of light

Ondřej Haderka, Václav Michálek, Vladimir Urbasek, Miroslav Ježek

Published May 13, 2009• 33 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A balanced homodyne detection scheme with nanosecond time resolution and sub-shot-noise sensitivity has been developed and successfully tested yielding an efficient detection scheme for high-speed quantum-optical measurements and communication protocols, for example, quantum cryptography. The parameters of the detector and its precise balancing allow complete characterization of quantum states created by femtosecond light pulses that include the measurement of photon number, optical phase, and statistical properties with a high signal-to-noise ratio for the whole bandwidth from DC to several tens of megahertz. The electronic part of the detector is based on a commercially available amplifier that provides ease of construction and use while yielding good performance.

DOI
10.1364/ao.48.002884

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A balanced homodyne detection scheme with nanosecond time resolution and sub-shot-noise sensitivity has been developed and successfully tested yielding an efficient detection scheme for high-speed quantum-optical measurements and communication protocols, for example, quantum cryptography. The parameters of the detector and its precise balancing allow complete characterization of quantum states created by femtosecond light pulses that include the measurement of photon number, optical phase, and statistical properties with a high signal-to-noise ratio for the whole bandwidth from DC to several tens of megahertz. The electronic part of the detector is based on a commercially available amplifier that provides ease of construction and use while yielding good performance.
Low-noise, efficient, phase-sensitive time-domain optical detection is essential for foundational tests of quantum physics based on optical quantum states and the realization of numerous applications ranging from quantum key distribution to coherent classical telecommunications. Stability, bandwidth, efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio are crucial performance parameters for effective detector operation. Here we present a high-bandwidth, low-noise, ultra-stable time-domain coherent measurement scheme based on balanced homodyne detection ideally suited to characterization of quantum and classical light fields in well-defined ultrashort optical pulse modes.
We present a high-speed time-domain shot-noise-limited balanced homodyne detector that is suitable for the detection of the quantum states of nanosecond pulsed optical fields. The detector can detect the quantum noise of individual nanosecond optical pulses at a repetition rate of 40 MHz and achieve a signal-to-noise ratio of above 14.5 dB at a local oscillator power of 9.9×107 photons per pulse. The stability of the detector is characterized via an Allan variance measurement, and superior stability is observed. The detector is especially applicable in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information, where high-speed time-domain detection of nanosecond pulsed optical field quadratures is required.
This thesis reports the realization and applications of a versatile wideband balanced homodyne detector operating in the time domain and intended for Quantum Optical Tomography. The detector can work with high repetition rate lasers used for the production and measurement of the electric field quadratures of quantum states of light. Full characterization of the detector by shot-noise measurements and by verifying its capability to reconstruct the density matrix and Wigner function of various states of interest is given. By overcoming photodiodes response mismatch, high frequency electronics issues and by choosing an appropriate optical set-up, a high level of common mode suppression (52.4dB) and a low electronic noise gave a shot-to-electronic noise ratio of I3dB for a Local Oscillator with 6.2 x 108 photons-per-pulse on a ~ 100MHz bandwidth. Results for the characterization of a single-photon Fock state are presented. An average efficiency of 56% was obtained for the generation/detection of the state.
A pulsed, balanced homodyne detector has been developed for precise measurement of the electric field quadratures of pulsed optical quantum states. A high level of common mode suppression (>85 dB) and low electronic noise (730 electrons per pulse) provide a signal-to-noise ratio of 14 dB for measurement of the quantum noise of individual pulses. Measurements at repetition rates as high as 1 MHz are possible. As a test, quantum tomography of the coherent state was performed, and the Wigner function and the density matrix were reconstructed with 99.5% fidelity. The detection system can be used for ultrarsensitive balanced detection in cw mode, e.g., for weak absorption measurements.
A homodyne detector was constructed for use in the balanced homodyne detection of light. In the frequency domain, the detector had an approximately 95 MHz 3 dB bandwidth and showed a 10 dB difference with regard to the electronic noise level at a local oscillator power of approximately 14 mW. With the detector, mean photon numbers in the signal light were measured in the time domain. The minimum mean photon number was about a few photons during the detector’s integration time of approximately 5.3 ns.