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Enhanced phase sensitivity in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer via photon recycling
Optics Express
|February 24, 2023
Summary
We developed a new Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) scheme using photon recycling for enhanced phase estimation. This method significantly improves phase sensitivity beyond traditional MZIs, even with photon loss.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Interferometry
Background:
- Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI) are crucial for phase estimation.
- Traditional MZI schemes have limitations in phase sensitivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and analyze an alternative MZI scheme with photon recycling.
- To demonstrate enhanced phase sensitivity and a lower quantum Cramér-Rao bound (QCRB).
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a photon recycling mechanism.
- Employing coherent-state input and homodyne detection.
- Investigating phase sensitivity and QCRB under photon loss.
Main Results:
- The proposed scheme achieves a phase sensitivity enhancement factor of ~9.32 compared to conventional MZIs.
- The scheme demonstrates a lower QCRB than the traditional MZI.
- The QCRB in the proposed scheme is phase-shift dependent, unlike the traditional scheme.
Conclusions:
- Photon recycling offers a viable strategy for enhancing phase sensitivity in MZIs.
- The new scheme provides superior performance in phase estimation, even with photon loss.
- This work offers novel insights into optimizing interferometric phase sensing.
