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Critical petermann K factor for intensity noise squeezing
van Der Lee AM1, van Druten NJ, van Exter MP
1Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
We investigate the impact of the Petermann-excess-noise factor K>/=1 on the possibility of intensity noise squeezing of laser light below the standard quantum limit. Using an N-mode model, we show that squeezing is limited to a floor level of 2(K-1) times the shot noise limit. Thus, even a modest Petermann factor significantly impedes squeezing, which becomes impossible when K>/=1.5. This appears as a serious limitation for obtaining sub-shot-noise light from practical semiconductor lasers. We present experimental evidence for our theory.
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