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Frontiers in Optics

Noise and Resolution in Acetylene Based Self-Referencing Configuration for Detection of Optical Phase Modulation

Jordan Diaz, Serguei I. Stepanov, Nayeli Casillas, Manuel Ocegueda, E. Hernández-Hernández

Published Jan 1, 2020• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report experimental measurements of noises and resolution in a bulk self-referencing interferometric configuration based on quantum memory of acetylene (C2H2) molecules at the wavelength of 1530.37 nm of P9 absorption line.
DOI
10.1364/fio.2020.jth4a.6

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) vibrational-rotational transitions in the 1520-1540 nm wavelength range for a self-referencing homodyne detection of a sub-nanosecond optical phase modulation is reported. In the proposed configuration the collinearly propagating coherent dipole radiation of the excited molecule acts like a phase-locked reference wave (local oscillator) that enables transformation of the initial phase modulation into the intensity one. This technique does not need high light intensity and can operate in a linear range of the medium optical absorption. The linear optical phase demodulation (i.e., transformation of the phase-to-amplitude light modulation) is interpreted as an introduction of an additional phase shift to the carrier frequency component of the modulated signal in the maximum of the dispersion curve of a narrow optical absorption peak. It has been experimentally demonstrated with the bulk 10 cm long cuvette filled with low pressure (∼2 Torr) acetylene at room temperature. Effective demodulation of the milliwatt-scale incident laser wave of a single- and multi-mode structure is shown. As expected, the response to the fast (<1 ns) phase modulation was quadratic when the acetylene inhomogeneous Doppler-broadened (∼500 MHz) absorption line is excited in its center and was linearized by tuning at one of the absorption line sides. It is of a differentiating (high-pass) type with the cutoff frequency determined by the total spectral width of the utilized absorption line. Expected detection resolution is determined by the photon noise of the incident light intensity.
We present a new concept of the homodyne interferometric adaptive detection of optical phase modulation. To ensure adaptivity, i.e. stabilization of the interferometer operation point, we utilize the phase memory of a two-level quantum system, resonantly illuminated with the information bearing signal wave. Phase modulation of the transmitted signal wave transforms into the intensity modulation via interference with the collinearly propagating dipole radiation of the excited two-level system. The latter acts like a reference wave since it has a phase corresponding to that of the signal wave but averaged over the transverse relaxation time T2 of the quantum system. Experimental demonstration with the acetylene-filled hollow-core micro-structured optical fiber at the communication wavelength of 1530nm of the acetylene P9 absorption line is presented. It is shown that the response to the introduced phase modulation is quadratic when the acetylene inhomogeneously broadened absorption line is excited in its center and is a linear one if it is excited at one of the absorption line sides.
Abstract We propose to use phase memory of an ensemble of two-level centers, irradiated by the resonantly tuned detected signal wave, for homodyne interferometric detection of fast optical phase modulation. Collinearly propagating dipole radiation of the excited two-level centers acts as a coherent reference wave (local oscillator) necessary to transform the phase modulation into the amplitude modulation behind the resonant medium. The phase of this radiation follows the average phase of the incident detected wave with the characteristic transverse relaxation time T 2 that ensures adaptive properties of this interferometric detection configuration to slowly varying environmental conditions. We present experimental demonstration with the acetylene-filled hollow-core microstructured optical fibers at a wavelength of 1530.37 nm of the acetylene P9 absorption line, which is inside the telecommunications wavelengths range. It is shown that the response is quadratic when the acetylene ∼500 MHz inhomogeneously broadened absorption line is excited in its center, but can be essentially linearized for excitation at one of the line sides.
Two schemes for interferometric optical phase measurement, with sensitivity limited only by quantum noise in the light, are analyzed. Direct detection is applicable to signals at modulation frequencies away from the technical noise of the light, so that quantum noise dominates the measurement. Alternatively signals otherwise obscured by classical optical noise may be recovered with a phase-modulation technique that shifts the signals to a quantum-noise-limited region of the photocurrent spectrum. The analysis is tested experimentally by using a polarimetric electric-field sensor. In the direct-detection scheme quantum-noise-limited performance produced a phase sensitivity of 0.25 µrad. The indirect scheme allowed subkilohertz signals to be extracted from classical noise 67 dB greater with sensitivity approaching the quantum noise limit.
Second generation quantum technologies aim to outperform classical alternatives by utilizing engineered quantum systems. Maintaining the coherence required to enable any quantum advantage requires detailed knowledge and control over the noise that the hosting system is subjected to. Characterizing noise processes via their power spectral density is routinely done throughout science and technology and can be a demanding task. Determining the phase noise power spectrum in leading quantum technology platforms, for example, can be either outside the reach of many phase noise analyzers or prohibitively expensive. In this work, we present and characterize a low-complexity, low-cost optical phase noise analyzer based on the short-delay optical self-heterodyne measurements for quantum technology applications. Using this setup, we compare two ≈1 Hz linewidth ultra-stable oscillators near 729 nm. Their measurements are used as a baseline to determine and discuss the noise floor achieved in this measurement apparatus with a focus on limitations and their tradeoffs. The achieved noise floor in this all-stock-component implementation of an optical phase noise analyzer compares favorably with commercial offerings. This setup can be used particularly without a more stable reference or operational quantum system as a sensor as would be the case for many component manufacturers.
A methodology is introduced that enables an absolute, quantum-limited measurement of sub-wavelength interferometric displacements. The technique utilizes a high-frequency optical path modulation within an interferometer operated in a homodyne configuration. All of the information necessary to fully characterize the resultant path displacement is contained within the relative strengths of the various harmonics of the phase modulation. The method, which is straightforward and readily implementable, allows a direct measurement of the theoretical Cramér-Rao limit of detection without any assumptions on the nature of the light source.