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Noncritically squeezed light via spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking
Carlos Navarrete-Benlloch1, Eugenio Roldán, Germán J de Valcárcel
1Departament d'Optica, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100-Burjassot, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|June 4, 2008
Summary
We predict squeezed light generation in a degenerate optical parametric oscillator (DOPO) by breaking rotational symmetry. This method produces a perfectly squeezed vacuum, a noncritical phenomenon robust to minor imperfections.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Nonlinear optics
Background:
- Degenerate optical parametric oscillators (DOPOs) are key sources for quantum light generation.
- Spontaneous symmetry breaking is a fundamental phenomenon in physics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To predict and analyze squeezed light generation in a DOPO via spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking.
- To identify the specific light modes involved and the characteristics of the generated squeezed vacuum.
Main Methods:
- Linearized theory analysis of a DOPO with spherical mirrors.
- Investigating the behavior of signal and idler fields corresponding to Laguerre-Gauss modes.
- Analyzing the resulting vacuum state's shape and properties.
Main Results:
- Prediction of squeezed light generation through spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking in a DOPO.
- Demonstration that a DOPO with spherical mirrors produces a perfectly squeezed vacuum with Hermite-Gauss mode shape.
- Observation that this phenomenon is noncritical, occurring at any pumping level above threshold.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking in a DOPO is a robust method for generating perfectly squeezed vacuum states.
- The generated squeezed vacuum exhibits a predictable Hermite-Gauss mode structure.
- Cavity imperfections have a minimal effect on the squeezed light generation process.
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