Abstract The generation and application of squeezed light have long been central goals of quantum optics. Intensity noise squeezing of bright (coherent) states (“bright squeezing”), in contrast to squeezed vacuum, is relatively underdeveloped. The current state of the art has generally been restricted to narrow operating wavelength ranges and does not natively support strong intracavity and broadband output squeezing. Here, we show how lasers with sharp intensity‐dependent dissipation can support strong intensity noise squeezing from infrared (IR) to terahertz (THz) wavelengths, the latter of which has eluded quantum light generation. Our protocol realizes strongly ( dB) intensity noise‐squeezed intracavity quantum states as well as output squeezing surpassing gigahertz bandwidths. Furthermore, we show how the same systems also support self‐pulsing and bistability, enabling control of light in both the mean field and noise domains. Our protocol could enable advances in low‐noise communication, cavity QED, and quantum sensing across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Abstract The generation and application of squeezed light have long been central goals of quantum optics. Intensity noise squeezing of bright (coherent) states (“bright squeezing”), in contrast to squeezed vacuum, is relatively underdeveloped. The current state of the art has generally been restricted to narrow operating wavelength ranges and does not natively support strong intracavity and broadband output squeezing. Here, we show how lasers with sharp intensity‐dependent dissipation can support strong intensity noise squeezing from infrared (IR) to terahertz (THz) wavelengths, the latter of which has eluded quantum light generation. Our protocol realizes strongly ( dB) intensity noise‐squeezed intracavity quantum states as well as output squeezing surpassing gigahertz bandwidths. Furthermore, we show how the same systems also support self‐pulsing and bistability, enabling control of light in both the mean field and noise domains. Our protocol could enable advances in low‐noise communication, cavity QED, and quantum sensing across the electromagnetic spectrum.
The generation and application of squeezed light have long been central goals of quantum optics, enabling sensing below the standard quantum limit, optical quantum computing platforms, and more. Intensity noise squeezing of bright (coherent) states, in contrast to squeezed vacuum, is relatively underdeveloped. Bright squeezing has been generated directly through nonlinear optical processes or ``quietly pumped'' semiconductor lasers. However, these methods suffer from weak squeezing limits, narrow operating wavelength ranges, and have not been explored at large bandwidths. Here, we show how semiconductor lasers with sharp intensity-dependent dissipation can support highly broadband intensity noise squeezing from infrared (IR) to terahertz (THz) wavelengths, the latter of which has remained unexplored in quantum noise studies. Our protocol realizes strongly (>10 dB) intensity noise-squeezed intracavity quantum states, which could create a new regime for cavity quantum electrodynamics experiments, as well as strong output squeezing surpassing gigahertz bandwidths. Furthermore, we show how the same systems also create self-pulsing and bistable mean field behavior, enabling control of light in both the temporal and noise domains. The existence of these multiple functionalities in both the classical and quantum mechanical domains in a single semiconductor laser platform, from IR to THz wavelengths, could enable advances in on-chip quantum optical communication, computing, and sensing across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Multimode quantum light is enticing for several applications, spanning imaging, spectroscopy, communication, and more. Parametric nonlinear processes have been vital in realizing squeezed and other quantum states of light. However, most work exploiting these processes has focused on generating multimode squeezed vacua and squeezing in mode superpositions (supermodes). Bright squeezing in multiple discrete frequency modes, if realized, could unlock novel applications in quantum-enhanced spectroscopy and optical quantum computing. Here, we show how dissipation engineering of a multimode nonlinear cavity with cascaded three-wave-mixing processes allows us to shape above-threshold frequency combs that feature strong single-mode output amplitude noise squeezing over 10 dB below the shot-noise limit, tunable across the comb. In addition, we demonstrate squeezing for multiple discrete frequency modes above threshold. This bright squeezing arises from enhancement of the (noiseless) nonlinear rate relative to decay rates in the system due to the cascaded generation of photons in a single idler “bath” mode. A natural consequence of the strong nonlinear coupling in our system is the creation of an effective cavity in the synthetic frequency dimension that sustains Bloch oscillations in the modal energy distribution. Bloch mode engineering could provide an opportunity to better control nonlinear energy flow in the synthetic frequency dimension, with exciting applications in quantum random walks and topological photonics. Lastly, we show evidence of long-range correlations in amplitude noise between discrete frequency modes, enabling long-range entanglement in a synthetic frequency dimension and providing a new resource for quantum communication. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Nonlinear dynamics provide an indispensable resource for creating quantum states of light, as well as other bosonic systems. Seminal work using second- and third-order nonlinear optical crystals, cavity quantum electrodynamics, and superconducting circuits, have enabled generating squeezed states, as well as various non-Gaussian quantum states (e.g., single photons, cat states) at both infrared and microwave frequencies. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to generate quantum states of light in broad portions of the electromagnetic spectrum: for example, at terahertz frequencies and at ultraviolet and X-ray frequencies. In this Perspective, I discuss a variety of emerging material platforms, as well as emerging theoretical and experimental tools, which enable overcoming these challenges. The main argument of this Perspective is that advances in driving nonlinear dynamics of material excitations, will enable generating quantum states of these material excitations as well as quantum states of light at new frequency ranges. I will further argue that in order to realize much of the promise of this nascent field, there is a need for innovation in the laser systems used to drive these nonlinear dynamics: specifically, innovations in realizing high-power laser sources that have very low noise, having quantum statistics similar to coherent states of light which describe lower intensity laser systems. I will highlight some experimental and theoretical work, in understanding quantum noise dynamics in complex laser systems, that can address these challenges.
Nonlinear optical effects such as frequency conversion form the basis for many practical light sources. In a variety of settings, the performance of such sources is limited by quantum noise. In many nonlinear systems, this quantum noise gets strongly amplified, as a result of the large sensitivity of the nonlinear dynamics to changes in the initial conditions - a feature common to many nonlinear systems. Here, we develop a general theory of quantum noise resulting from nonlinear dynamics initiated by many-photon Gaussian quantum states. The theory provides guidelines to find the optimal quantum state to inject to maximally suppress the noise at the output. As a concrete example of the concept and theory, we consider the nonlinear optical phenomenon of supercontinuum generation by a femtosecond pulse, a famously noise-generating process, which is important in a range of applications in materials characterization and life science. By seeding supercontinuum generation with pulsed squeezed vacuum, one can achieve order-of-magnitude magnitude reduction of intensity and phase noise simultaneously, over a broad band of wavelengths, passively, and with no change in spectrum. The large magnitude and bandwidth of this effect is challenging to achieve by other means of stabilization, pointing to a promising approach for controlling quantum noise in a variety of nonlinear systems.
Interactions between photons (nonlinearities) enable a powerful form of control over the state of light. This control has enabled technologies such as light sources at new wavelengths, ultra-short optical pulses, frequency-comb metrology systems, even quantum light sources. Common to a wide variety of nonlinear optical technologies is an equilibrium between an energy source, such as an external laser, and dissipation, such as radiation loss or absorption. In the vast majority of these systems, the coupling between the system and the outside world (which leads to loss) is well described as “Markovian,” meaning that the outside world has no memory of its past state. In this work, we introduce a class of driven-dissipative systems in which a nonlinear cavity experiences non-Markovian coupling to the outside world. In the classical regime, we show that these non-Markovian cavities can have extremely low thresholds for nonlinear effects, as well as self-pulsing instabilities at THz rates, and rich phase diagrams with alternating regions of stability and instability. In the quantum regime, we show how these systems, when implemented on state-of-the-art platforms, can enable generation of strongly squeezed cavity states with intensity fluctuations that can be more than 15 dB below the classical limit, in contrast to the Markovian driven-dissipative cavity, in which the limit is 3 dB. In the regime of few-photon nonlinearity, such non-Markovian cavities can enable a deterministic protocol to generate Fock states of high order, which are long-desired, but still elusive at optical frequencies. We expect that exploiting non-Markovian couplings in nonlinear optics should in the future lead to even richer possibilities than those discussed here for both classical and quantum light manipulations.
Interactions between photons (nonlinearities) enable a powerful form of control over the state of light. This control has enabled technologies such as light sources at new wavelengths, ultra-short optical pulses, frequency-comb metrology systems, even quantum light sources. Common to a wide variety of nonlinear optical technologies is an equilibrium between an energy source, such as an external laser, and dissipation, such as radiation loss or absorption. In the vast majority of these systems, the coupling between the system and the outside world (which leads to loss) is well-described as ``Markovian,'' meaning that the outside world has no memory of its past state. In this work, we introduce a class of driven-dissipative systems in which a nonlinear cavity experiences non-Markovian coupling to the outside world. In the classical regime, we show that these non-Markovian cavities can have extremely low thresholds for nonlinear effects, as well as self-pulsing instabilities at THz rates, and rich phase diagrams with alternating regions of stability and instability. In the quantum regime, we show how these system, when implemented on state-of-the-art platforms, can enable generation of strongly squeezed cavity states with intensity fluctuations that can be more than 15 dB below the classical limit, in contrast to the Markovian driven-dissipative cavity, in which the limit is 3 dB. In the regime of few-photon nonlinearity, such non-Markovian cavities can enable a deterministic protocol to generate Fock states of high order, which are long-desired, but still elusive at optical frequencies. We expect that exploiting non-Markovian couplings in nonlinear optics should in the future lead to even richer possibilities than those discussed here for both classical and quantum light manipulations.