Reduction of quantum noise in optical parametric amplification

Juan Ariel Levenson (1) , Izo Abram (1) , Thomas Rivera (1) , Philippe Grangier (2)

1 CNET - Centre national d'études des télécommunications
2 Laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique / Optique quantique

We experimentally demonstrate that a type-II pulsed optical parametric amplifier operated in a phase-insensitive configuration works as a near-perfect classical optical amplifier whose noise figure approaches 3 dB at high gains. We further demonstrate that, when operated in a phase-sensitive configuration, this amplifier works as a quantum-optical amplifier whose noise figure goes below 3 dB and approaches 0 dB at high gains. The noise figure of 1.45 + 0.2 dB, measured for a gain of 9 dB, is clearly in the quantum regime.

Domains: Optics [physics.optics]

Juan Ariel Levenson, Izo Abram, Thomas Rivera, Philippe Grangier. Reduction of quantum noise in optical parametric amplification. Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 1993, 10 (11), pp.2233-2238. ⟨hal-00870996⟩