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Quantum-Atom Optics Downunder (QAO)

Development of Strong and Low Frequency Squeezing.

B. C. Buchler, Kirk McKenzie, Michael Stefszky, S. Chua, Malcolm B. Gray, David E. McClelland, Ping Koy Lam

Published Jan 1, 2007• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We report on the generation of squeezed states with optical parametric oscillators. Firstly, we discuss experiments aimed toward producing stronger squeezing. We characterise three different nonlinear materials (PPKTP, PPSLN and PPSLT) in terms of their nonlinearity and optical losses to evaluate their squeezing efficacy. Secondly, we present results showing the development of squeezed states at audio sideband frequencies. Squeezing in this frequency range is required for applications in interferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors. We discuss the significance of the results in terms of potential sensitivity improvements of current and future GW detectors and also potential upgrades to our experiment.

DOI
10.1364/qao.2007.qwc4

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•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

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Advanced Solid-State Photonics (TOPS)•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations
We report on the generation of squeezed states with optical parametric oscillators. Firstly, we discuss experiments aimed toward producing stronger squeezing. We characterise three different nonlinear materials (PPKTP, PPSLN and PPSLT) in terms of their nonlinearity and optical losses to evaluate their squeezing efficacy. Secondly, we present results showing the development of squeezed states at audio sideband frequencies. Squeezing in this frequency range is required for applications in interferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors. We discuss the significance of the results in terms of potential sensitivity improvements of current and future GW detectors and also potential upgrades to our experiment.
A squeezed light source requires properties such as high squeezing amplitude, high bandwidth and stability over time, ideally using as few resources, such as laser power, as possible. We compare three nonlinear materials, two of which have not been well characterized for squeezed state production, and also investigate the viability of doubly-resonant optical parametric oscillator cavities in achieving these requirements. A model is produced that provides a new way of looking at the construction of an optical parametric oscillator/optical parametric amplifier setup where second harmonic power is treated as a limited resource. The well-characterized periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PPKTP) is compared in an essentially identical setup to two relatively new materials, periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) and 1.7% magnesium oxide doped periodically poled stoichiometric lithium niobate (PPSLN). Although from the literature PPSLT and PPSLN present advantages such as a higher damage threshold and a higher nonlinearity, respectively, PPKTP was still found to have the most desirable properties. With PPKTP, 5.8 dB of squeezing below the shot noise limit was achieved. With PPSLT, 5.0 dB of squeezing was observed but the power required to see this squeezing was much higher than expected. A technical problem with the PPSLN limited the observed squeezing to around 1.0 dB. This problem is discussed.
We demonstrate the generation of broadband continuous-wave optical squeezing from 280 Hz-100 kHz using a below-threshold optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The squeezed state phase was controlled using a noise locking technique. We show that low frequency noise sources, such as seed noise, pump noise, and detuning fluctuations, present in optical parametric amplifiers, have negligible effect on squeezing produced by a below-threshold OPO. This low frequency squeezing is ideal for improving the sensitivity of audio frequency measuring devices such as gravitational-wave detectors.
Squeezed state of light is an important resource of optical measuerments below the shot noise limit and has been used to improve measurement sensitivity in many areas such as gravitational wave detection, especially in audio frequency region. Compared with the high-frequency squeezed states, the generation of the low-frequency squeezed states is more difficult, because it is limited by several technical noise sources. In this paper we report the observation of more than 2 dB of vacuum squeezing at 1064 nm in the gravitational-wave detection band down to 3 kHz with a double-resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO has a configuration of linear cavity consisting of an input coupling mirror with a transmission of 11% at 532 nm and an output coupling mirror with the transmission of 12% at 1064 nm. The nonlinear materials in the OPO is type-I periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PPKTP) crystal which is chosen for this experiment due to its higher nonlinearity, broader phase matching temperature, and smaller photo-thermal effect. The OPO is pumped by the light of 532 nm from Nd: YVO4/KTP solid-state laser of maximum optical power 3 W. To avoid various noise coupled from the seed beam, the OPO is seeded by vacuum fluctuations instead of coherent field at the fundamental wavelength (1064 nm). A Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) locking scheme is used to lock the OPO cavity length with the signal derived from the reflected pump beam, so as to lock the pump field and also lock the fundamental field. To make both the pump and seed beams resonant simultaneously, the temperature of the PPKTP is carefully adjusted. The squeezed state can be detected on a homodyne detection by interfering it with the local oscillator (LO) and detected by a balanced detector with two photodiodes (EXT500 T) but having the same quantum efficiency of 86% at 1064 nm. The subsequent electronic noise is analyzed with a low-frequency spectrum analyzer, which shows that the audio noise sources from lab enviroment, locking quality, escape efficiency, propagation loss, homodyne efficiency and detection efficiency have effect on the squeezing pruced by an OPO.
Useful applications for squeezed states of light have been theorized for decades, however, only recently have advancements in the technology allowed for experimental investigations into applications of squeezed light. Most experiments which involve squeezing could be benefited by having a squeezing source which produces stable, highly squeezed states. This thesis investigates the generation of squeezed states of light which exhibit these properties, stability and high levels of squeezing. The key investigations are; • Initially a model is produced which estimates the expected level of squeezing in a singly or doubly resonant cavity. The properties of the cavity are altered by varying the reflectivity of one of the cavity mirrors for either the pump or seed frequencies. The effects of increasing pump power and introducing additional losses into the cavity are investigated as well as the optimum resonance conditions for maximum squeezing. • Built 3 squeezers with 3 different nonlinear mediums. A maximum squeezing value was found for each of the crystals and any effects which degraded or improved the results were investigated. Using PPKTP 5.8±0.1dB of squeezing was directly observed. Using PPSLT 4.9±0.1dB of squeezing was directly observed. PPSLT was found to have an unusually high threshold power, indicating that the crystal may have had a nonlinear coefficient much lower than expected. Using 1.7% MgO:PPSLN 1.1±0.2dB of squeezing was observed. The poor squeezing results were due to an anomaly in the material which affected its reflectivity and is investigated in the thesis. • The intra-cavity loss introduced to the system through the addition of each of the crystals was inferred from measurements of the cavity finesse, and the effect of this loss is explored. • Demonstrated the usefulness of a wedge in periodically poled materials to reach the optimum resonance condition in the squeezing setup. It is shown that the wedge is capable of cancelling the dispersion introduced in a round trip of the cavity, with no discernible negative effects. These investigations are used to comment on the suitability of each of these crystals for future experiments involving squeezing and possible modifications to improve the results.