Generation of two-mode quadrature-phase squeezing and intensity-difference squeezing from a cw-NOPO

Received: 17 January 1998     

Squeezing by second-harmonic generation in a monolithic resonator

We have measured the intensity fluctuations of the second-harmonic mode generated in a MgO:LiNbO₃ external monolithic cavity pumped by a Nd:YAG laser. The cavity has mirror coatings for both the fundamental and the second-harmonic mode. We scan the cavity using the electro-optic effect of the crystal and observe that the second-harmonic beam of 2 mW exhibits a quantum noise reduction of 40(±5)%. In addition, we report on the active frequency stabilization of the monolithic device used in our squeezing experiments. Several fast tuning parameters such as the electro-optic effect, the photo-elastic effect, and the laser frequency have been investigated. With these tuning parameters the monolithic resonator can be locked on double-resonance at the phase-matching temperature, which is a prerequisit for observing squeezing in a cw-regime.     

Generation of pulsed squeezed light in a mode-locked optical parametric oscillator

The generation of pulsed squeezed light using an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is discussed. This mode-locked optical parametric oscillator consists of a nonlinear crystal in a cavity which is resonant for both signal and idler waves and which is synchronously pumped by the second-harmonic of an acousto-optically mode-locked cw Nd: YAG laser. The fundamental wavelength of the pump laser provides local oscillator pulses for balanced homodyne detection of squeezed vacuum pulses emitted by the oscillator when operated below oscillation threshold. Photocurrent noise reduction to 30% below the classical shot-noise limit is observed, corresponding to squeezing of the field to a level approximately a factor of two below the mean square vacuum noise.     

Generation of amplitude squeezed green light from a high efficiency PPKTP frequency doubler

We report on a high-efficiency 532 nm green light conversion from an external cavity-enhanced second harmonic generation of a home-made 1064 nm single-frequency Nd:YVO₄ laser with a periodically poled KTP crystal. A stable green power of 60 mW with a conversion efficiency of 75% was measured. Meantime, we investigate the quadrature amplitude noise of the green light at the same experimental setup and 0.6 dB green light squeezing was experimentally observed (taking into account the total detection efficiency of 58%, the squeezing should be 1.1 dB). The squeezing as a function of input power was also studied and we found qualitative agreement with theoretical prediction.     

Enhanced squeezing and entanglement in a non-degenerate three-level cascade laser with injected squeezed light

We consider a non-degenerate three-level cascade laser coupled to a two-mode squeezed vacuum reservoir via the lossy single-port mirror. Applying the pertinent master equation, we analyze the effects of the injected squeezed light on the quadrature squeezing, entanglement and normalized intensity difference fluctuations. We show that the injected squeezed light considerably enhances the degree of squeezing and entanglement in the two-mode light for certain initial conditions. Moreover, the injected squeezed light increases the mean photon number where the squeezing and entanglement is significant. We also show that the presence of the injected squeezed light greatly reduces the noise in the intensity difference.     

Kilohertz extreme-ultraviolet light source based on femtosecond high-order harmonic generation from noble gases

A compact, versatile table-top kilohertz source of coherent extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) radiation in the wavelength region 18–100 nm, based on high-order harmonic generation from noble gases induced by a 40-femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system, is presented. The XUV beamline delivers at its output 10⁸ photons/s at a wavelength of 23 nm. The monochromatized XUV radiation is directly focused onto a 10^-2-mm² spot by a toroidal grating, allowing one to reach intensities higher than 10⁶ W/cm². Optimization results are presented for a new XUV-generating geometry, utilizing a ‘semi-infinite’ quasi-static gas cell and strong focusing. In those conditions, we observe an anomalous inversion between the cutoffs of argon and krypton, with the krypton spectrum extending to much higher orders than expected in an adiabatic limit. Received: 9 July 2001 / Revised version: 1 August 2001 / Published online: 7 November 2001     

Effects of electron relaxation on multiple harmonic generation from metal surfaces with femtosecond laser pulses

Calculations are presented for the first four (odd and even) harmonics of an 800 nm laser from a gold surface, with pulse widths ranging from 100 down to 14 fs. For peak laser intensities above 1 GW/cm² the harmonics are enhanced because of a partial depletion of the initial electron states. At 10¹¹ W/cm² of peak laser intensity the calculated conversion efficiency for 2nd-harmonic generation is 3 × 10⁻⁹, while for the 5th-harmonic it is 10⁻¹⁰. The generated harmonic pulses are broadened and delayed relative to the laser pulse because of the finite relaxation times of the excited electronic states. The finite electron relaxation times cause also the broadening of the autocorrelations of the laser pulses obtained from surface harmonic generation by two time-delayed identical pulses. Comparison with recent experimental results shows that the response time of an autocorrelator using nonlinear optical processes in a gold surface is shorter than the electron relaxation times. This seems to indicate that for laser pulses shorter than ∼30 fs, the fast nonresonant channel for multiphoton excitation via continuum-continuum transitions in metals becomes important as the resonant channel becomes slow (relative to the laser pulse) and less efficient.     

Nonlinear mode coupling in doubly resonant frequency doublers

The concept of a doubly resonant frequency doubler can be used for a variety of experiments concerning both classical phenomena like efficient frequency doubling at low power levels and quantum effects like squeezed states of light or Quantum Non Demolition (QND) measurements. In many of these experiments the strength of the nonlinear coupling of fundamental and second-harmonic modes is of crucial importance. First we treat the general theory for the calculation of the coupling parameter, which depends not only on properties of the nonlinear material but also on resonator geometry and some optical phases. On this basis we discuss in detail the situation for two different monolithic resonator geometries, namely a linear (standing-wave) and a ring (travelling-wave) cavity. Finally we compare theoretical predictions for these resonators to the experimentally achieved results.     

Quantum correlated twin beams

We discuss recent progress in the study of the non-classical properties of light beams generated by non-degenerate parametric splitting in ⁽²⁾ nonlinear birefringent crystals, with special emphasis on their quantum correlation (twin beams). We describe experimental results using successively pure parametric fluorescence, parametric amplification of a weak signal beam pumped by a pulsed laser, and parametric oscillation in a cavity pumped by a cw laser. In this review, we compare the respective advantages and drawbacks of the different approaches.     

Theory of multiple harmonic generation in reflection from a metal surface

A microscopic theory is presented for multiple harmonic generation (MHG) from a metal surface in the jellium approximation and for laser intensities below the critical value for plasma formation. Calculations are presented for the second and up to the sixth harmonic, in the case of a gold surface and for laser wavelengths 800 and 1064 nm, with femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses. The peaks of the harmonic pulses are delayed relative to the peak of the incident laser pulse by about 20 to 30 fs due to the finite electron-relaxation times. The calculated relative peak intensities of the various harmonics are most sensitive to the values of the relaxation times, and MHG provides a way of determining these times. An erratum to this article can be found at .     

Parametric conversion and maximally entangled photon pair via collective excitations in a cycle atomic ensemble

We study the propagation of two quantized optical fields via considering the collective effects of photonic emissions and excitations of a three-level cyclic-type system (such as atomic ensemble with symmetry broken, or the chiral molecular gases, or manual “atomic” array with symmetry broken), where the quantum transitions is driven by two quantized fields and a classical one. The results show that the parametric conversion and maximally entangled photon pair generation can be achieved by means of the collective excitation of the two upper energy levels induced by the classic optical field. This investigation may be used for the generated coherent short-wavelength quantum radiation and quantum information processing.     

Analysis on generation schemes of Schrödinger cat-like states under experimental imperfections

An analysis and a comparison of two generation schemes of Schrödinger cat-like state including experimental imperfections are presented. Under practical conditions, a scheme using a squeezed vacuum and a photon subtraction will generate a cat-like state with its fidelity to the Schrödinger cat state F = 0.815 and value of its Wigner function at the origin of the phase space W(0,0) = −0.203, and then turned out to be more feasible than the scheme using squeezed single-photon state. The non-classicality of these cat-like states is governed only by non-classical photon number statistics. The criteria for ensuring W(0,0) < 0 are also presented in terms of imperfection parameter diagrams.     

Generation of broadband squeezed states pumped by CW mode-locked pulses

Broadband high level squeezing was clearly observed from 100 kHz to 80 MHz using crystals Ba₂NaNb₅O₁₅ of 5 mm length, MgO:LiNbO₃ of 19 mm length and KNbO₃ of 5.8 mm length. Maximum noise reductions detected on a spectrum analyzer were –1.2 dB (–24%), –1.25 dB (–25%), and –1.8 dB (–34%) for the three crystals, respectively. The maximum squeezing is limited mostly by optical index damage of the parametric crystals. A detailed analysis of the beam parameters traced along the pump beam, squeezed vacuum, etc. is given. A detailed discussion on the evaluation of the initial squeezed level is given. A preliminary experiment with compressed laser pulses to avoid the optical damage is also described.     

Second-harmonic generated by self-squeezed light in isotropic medium. The role of light intensity-dependent effects and molecular-statistical structure

An isotropic medium with electrically removed centre of symmetry in which a fundamental wave at frequency generates the second harmonic at 2 is considered. The two waves give rise to self-acting effects modifying the refractive indices at and/or 2 (selfinduced ellipse rotation, optical Kerr effect). For this physical situation, an effective interaction Hamiltonian is introduced involving nonlinear coupling parameters, discussed versus the dc electric field and temperature as well as the density, concentration and molecular structure of the medium. The solutions of the respective quantum equations for the field operators at and 2 permit, in particular, the calculation of the variances for a novel process of second-harmonic generation by light, self-squeezed in an isotropic medium. It is shown that squeezing in the out-of-phase component of the second harmonic beam follows, with some delay, after self-squeezing in the in-phase component of the fundamental beam.Sponsored by the Polish Academy of Sciences, Project CPBP 01.12     

Degenerate three-level cascade laser with the cavity mode driven by coherent light

We present the quantum statistical properties of the light produced by a degenerate three-level cascade laser with the cavity mode driven by coherent light. In this system three-level atoms in a cascade configuration, initially prepared in a coherent superposition of the top and bottom levels, are injected into a cavity coupled a vacuum reservoir. We find that although the driving coherent light has no effect on the degree of squeezing, it increases the mean photon number considerably. Therefore, this quantum optical system can be taken as a source of a bright squeezed light.     

Interaction of a two-level atom with squeezed light

We consider a degenerate parametric oscillator whose cavity contains a two-level atom. Applying the Heisenberg and quantum Langevin equations, we calculate in the bad-cavity limit the mean photon number, the quadrature variance, and the power spectrum for the cavity mode in general and for the signal light and fluorescent light in particular. We also obtain the normalized second-order correlation function for the fluorescent light. We find that the presence of the two-level atom leads to a decrease in the degree of squeezing of the signal light. It so turns out that the fluorescent light is in a squeezed state and the power spectrum consists of a single peak only.     

Entanglement and squeezing of multi-qubit systems using a two-axis countertwisting Hamiltonian with an external field

We study the squeezing and pairwise entanglement properties of multi-qubit spin systems, implemented by a two-axis countertwisting Hamiltonian, with and without an external field. We show that the addition of an external field, enforces stronger squeezing and entanglement, and also increases the time duration that these phenomena may be maintained.     

Efficient harmonic generation of second, third, and fourth orders from Fourier-transform-limited CO2 laser beam at 10.6 μm in GaSe crystals

Second, 3rd, and 4th order harmonics from a Fourier-transform-limited nanosecond CO₂ laser beam at 10.6 μm were efficiently generated within one or two GaSe crystals. The peak output powers were determined to be 443, 23, and 2 W, respectively, corresponding to conversion efficiencies of 3.0%, 0.13% and 0.0093%, which were significantly improved, compared with all the previous results. The linewidths of the harmonic beams were estimated to be 80, 104, and 116 MHz, respectively.     

Effects of laser pulsewidth on higher-order harmonic generation in the barrier-suppression-ionization intensity regime

We studied the highest harmonic photon energies of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) for He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and N₂. This research employed 65-fs and 150-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses, of which the peak intensities in a vacuum are higher than the barrier-suppression-ionization (BSI) intensities. We fitted two analytical formulae to the experimental results of HHG. One formula, which was obtained by fitting an analytical formula to the results by a quantum mechanical simulation of HHG, expresses the highest interaction intensity by a function of the BSI intensity and the Keldysh γ-parameter. The other formula is derived by introducing the saturation intensity of HHG, which was proposed by Chang et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 2967 (1997)]. We discuss the highest interaction intensity for the condition when the peak laser intensities are higher than the BSI intensities. Received: 19 March 1999 / Revised version: 13 August 1999 / Published online: 27 October 1999     

Resonances and spectral properties of detuned OPOs pumped by fluctuating sources

Twin-beam fluctuations are analyzed for detuned and mismatched OPO configurations. Resonances and frequency responses to the quantum noise sources (quantum and pump amplitude/phase fluctuations) are examined as functions of cavity decay rates, excitation parameters and detuning. The dependence of self- and mutual correlations of beam amplitudes and phases on detuning, mismatch and damping parameters is discussed. Received: 25 January 2002 / Revised version: 28 May 2002 / Published online: 15 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +39-81/676-346, E-mail: alberto.porzio@na.infn.it