Squeezed states of light enable enhanced measurement precision by reducing noise below the standard quantum limit. A key application of squeezed light is nonlinear microscopy, where state-of-the-art performance is limited by photodamage and quantum-limited noise. Such microscopes require bright, pulsed light for optimal operation, yet generating and detecting bright pulsed squeezing at high levels remains challenging. In this work, we present an efficient technique to generate high levels of bright picosecond pulsed squeezed light using a $χ^2$ optical parametric amplification process in a waveguide. We measure $-3.2~\mathrm{dB}$ of bright squeezing with optical power compatible with nonlinear microscopy, as well as $-3.6~\mathrm{dB}$ of vacuum squeezing. Corrected for losses, these squeezing levels correspond to $-15.4^{+2.7}_{-8.7}~\mathrm{dB}$ of squeezing generated in the waveguide. The measured level of bright amplitude pulsed squeezing is to our knowledge the highest reported to date, and will contribute to the broader adoption of quantum-enhanced nonlinear microscopy in biological studies.Squeezed states of light enable enhanced measurement precision by reducing noise below the standard quantum limit. A key application of squeezed light is nonlinear microscopy, where state-of-the-art performance is limited by photodamage and quantum-limited noise. Such microscopes require bright, pulsed light for optimal operation, yet generating and detecting bright pulsed squeezing at high levels remains challenging. In this work, we present an efficient technique to generate high levels of bright picosecond pulsed squeezed light using a $χ^2$ optical parametric amplification process in a waveguide. We measure $-3.2~\mathrm{dB}$ of bright squeezing with optical power compatible with nonlinear microscopy, as well as $-3.6~\mathrm{dB}$ of vacuum squeezing. Corrected for losses, these squeezing levels correspond to $-15.4^{+2.7}_{-8.7}~\mathrm{dB}$ of squeezing generated in the waveguide. The measured level of bright amplitude pulsed squeezing is to our knowledge the highest reported to date, and will contribute to the broader adoption of quantum-enhanced nonlinear microscopy in biological studies.

quant-pharXiv:2601.15565Jan 23, 20260 citations

Quantum Microscopy

David S. Simon, Gregg S. Jaeger, Alexander V. Sergienko

Quantum science and technologyNov 3, 20160 citations

Quantum microscopy: A new tool for future technologies

G. L. van de Stolpe, Toeno van der Sar

Nov 1, 20190 citations

Single-spin stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy

Matthias Pfender, Nabeel Aslam, G. Waldherr +2 more

We experimentally demonstrate precision addressing of single-quantum emitters by combined optical microscopy and spin resonance techniques. To this end, we use nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond confined within a few ten nanometers as individually resolvable quantum systems. By developing a stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) technique for NV centers, we are able to simultaneously perform sub-diffraction-limit imaging and optically detected spin resonance (ODMR) measurements on NV spins. This allows the assignment of spin resonance spectra to individual NV center locations with nanometer-scale resolution and thus further improves spatial discrimination. For example, we resolved formerly indistinguishable emitters by their spectra. Furthermore, ODMR spectra contain metrology information allowing for sub-diffraction-limit sensing of, for instance, magnetic or electric fields with inherently parallel data acquisition. As an example, we have detected nuclear spins with nanometer-scale precision. Finally, we give prospects of how this technique can evolve into a fully parallel quantum sensor for nanometer resolution imaging of delocalized quantum correlations.We experimentally demonstrate precision addressing of single-quantum emitters by combined optical microscopy and spin resonance techniques. To this end, we use nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond confined within a few ten nanometers as individually resolvable quantum systems. By developing a stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) technique for NV centers, we are able to simultaneously perform sub-diffraction-limit imaging and optically detected spin resonance (ODMR) measurements on NV spins. This allows the assignment of spin resonance spectra to individual NV center locations with nanometer-scale resolution and thus further improves spatial discrimination. For example, we resolved formerly indistinguishable emitters by their spectra. Furthermore, ODMR spectra contain metrology information allowing for sub-diffraction-limit sensing of, for instance, magnetic or electric fields with inherently parallel data acquisition. As an example, we have detected nuclear spins with nanometer-scale precision. Finally, we give prospects of how this technique can evolve into a fully parallel quantum sensor for nanometer resolution imaging of delocalized quantum correlations.

arXiv:1404.1520Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesSep 29, 201491 citations

Quantum Microscopy of Biological Systems

Michael A. Taylor

Springer thesesJan 1, 201521 citations

Quantum control of atomic systems (with applications in nonlinear optics)

Калоян Златанов, Kaloyan N. Zlatanov

Coherent control is at the core of contemporary quantum physics. Unclassical states of matter, known as "superposition states" are the main building block of modern day experiments. They are at the basis of quantum information, known as Q-bits, they directly regulate the conversion efficiency in nonlinear harmonic waves in the field of nonlinear optics, they improve the precision of atomic clocks etc. The practical need of good and stable control over these states of matter dictate the need of novel generation protocols, which are robust towards unwanted interactions with the environment and imperfections in the control parameters. We investigate the simplest effects of the system-environment interaction and also provide novel robust superposition generation protocols. An emblematic sub-field on nonlinear optics is the nonlinear microscopy field. This type of microscopy has a tremendous success where standard linear microscopy fails, that is in multilayer samples with similar refractive indecies. We investigate contrast improving techniques for nonlinear microscopy based on suppression of the background signal and enhancement of the signal from the sample.Coherent control is at the core of contemporary quantum physics. Unclassical states of matter, known as "superposition states" are the main building block of modern day experiments. They are at the basis of quantum information, known as Q-bits, they directly regulate the conversion efficiency in nonlinear harmonic waves in the field of nonlinear optics, they improve the precision of atomic clocks etc. The practical need of good and stable control over these states of matter dictate the need of novel generation protocols, which are robust towards unwanted interactions with the environment and imperfections in the control parameters. We investigate the simplest effects of the system-environment interaction and also provide novel robust superposition generation protocols. An emblematic sub-field on nonlinear optics is the nonlinear microscopy field. This type of microscopy has a tremendous success where standard linear microscopy fails, that is in multilayer samples with similar refractive indecies. We investigate contrast improving techniques for nonlinear microscopy based on suppression of the background signal and enhancement of the signal from the sample.

May 14, 20190 citations

χ^2

optical parametric amplification process in a waveguide. We measure

-3.2~\mathrm{dB}

of bright squeezing with optical power compatible with nonlinear microscopy, as well as

-3.6~\mathrm{dB}

of vacuum squeezing. Corrected for losses, these squeezing levels correspond to

-15.4^{+2.7}_{-8.7}~\mathrm{dB}

of squeezing generated in the waveguide. The measured level of bright amplitude pulsed squeezing is to our knowledge the highest reported to date, and will contribute to the broader adoption of quantum-enhanced nonlinear microscopy in biological studies.