We point out in this paper the possibility of demonstrating the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox via quadrature phase measurements performed on the two output beams of a nondegenerate parametric amplifier. A technique that might be used to demonstrate the paradox has already been partly developed experimentally.

Demonstration of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox using nondegenerate parametric amplification.

The author reviews methods for generating sub-Poissonian light and related concepts. This light has energy fluctuations reduced below the level which corresponds to a classical Poissonian process (shot-noise level). After an introduction to the concept of nonclassical light, an overview is given of the main methods of quantum-noise reduction. Sub-Poissonian processes are exemplified in different areas of optics, ranging from single-atom resonance fluorescence to nonlinear optics, laser physics, and cavity quantum electrodynamics. Emphasis is placed on the conceptual foundations, and on developments in laser theory that lead to the possibility, already demonstrated experimentally, of linewidth narrowing and sub-Poissonian light generation in lasers and masers. The sources of quantum noise in these devices are analyzed, and four noise-suppression methods are discussed in detail: regularization of the pumping, suppression of spontaneous-emission noise, nonadiabatic evolution of the atomic variables, and twin-beam generation.

https://www.if.ufrj.br/~ldavid/arquivos/rmp.pdf

Sub-Poissonian processes in quantum optics

Squeezed light generation has come of age. Significant advances on squeezed light generation have been made over the last 30 years—from the initial, conceptual experiment in 1985 till today’s top-tuned, application-oriented setups. Here we review the main experimental platforms for generating quadrature squeezed light that have been investigated in the last 30 years.

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30 years of squeezed light generation

Squeezed states of the electromagnetic field are generated by degenerate parametric downconversion in a subthreshold optical parametric oscillator. Reductions in photocurrent noise greater than 60% (-4 dB) below the limit set by the vacuum fluctuations of the field are observed in a balanced homodyne detector. A quantitative comparison with theory suggests that the observed noise reductions result from a field that in the absence of avoidable linear attenuation would be squeezed more than tenfold. A degree of squeezing of approximately fivefold is inferred for the actual field emitted through one mirror of the optical parametric oscillator. An explicit demonstration of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle for the electromagnetic field is made from the measurements, which show that the field state produced by the downconversion process is a state of minimum uncertainty.

/pdf/squeezed-states-of-light-from-an-optical-parametric-3bk15banjm.pdf

Squeezed states of light from an optical parametric oscillator

Coherent light emission in lasers is reflected in a change of the photon statistics. Here Wiersig et al. demonstrate a streak camera technique with sufficient time resolution to probe the dynamical evolution of correlations between individual photon emission events. This work may lead to novel quantum optical studies addressing the dynamics of correlation functions of light. Lasers are recognized for coherent light emission, the onset of which is reflected in a change in photon statistics; but, until now, attempts to directly measure correlations in the individual photon emission events of semiconductor lasers have been unsuccessful. By using a streak camera technique with sufficient time resolution, the dynamical evolution of correlations between individual photon emission events is now demonstrated. Lasers are recognized for coherent light emission, the onset of which is reflected in a change in the photon statistics1. For many years, attempts have been made to directly measure correlations in the individual photon emission events of semiconductor lasers2,3. Previously, the temporal decay of these correlations below or at the lasing threshold was considerably faster than could be measured with the time resolution provided by the Hanbury Brown/Twiss measurement set-up4 used. Here we demonstrate a measurement technique using a streak camera that overcomes this limitation and provides a record of the arrival times of individual photons. This allows us to investigate the dynamical evolution of correlations between the individual photon emission events. We apply our studies to micropillar lasers5 with semiconductor quantum dots2,3,6,7,8 as the active material, operating in the regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics9. For laser resonators with a low cavity quality factor, Q, a smooth transition from photon bunching to uncorrelated emission with increasing pumping is observed; for high-Q resonators, we see a non-monotonic dependence around the threshold where quantum light emission can occur. We identify regimes of dynamical anti-bunching of photons in agreement with the predictions of a microscopic theory that includes semiconductor-specific effects.

Direct observation of correlations between individual photon emission events of a microcavity laser

Electromagnetic fields with photon-number fluctuation reduced below the standard quantum limit have been generated in a constant-current--driven semiconductor laser. The generation is based on a new principle of high impedance suppression for pump-amplitude fluctuation in a highly saturated laser oscillator. The observed noise level is 7.3% (31% after correction for detection quantum efficiency) in power below the standard quantum limit in the entire frequency range between 350 and 450 MHz.

Y. Itaya

Papers

Observation of amplitude squeezing in a constant-current-driven semiconductor laser.