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arXiv · 1710.04209

Coherent Detection of Ultra-weak Electromagnetic Fields

Zachary R. Bush·Simon Barke·Harold Hollis·Aaron D. Spector·Ayman Hallal·Giuseppe Messineo·D. B. Tanner·Guido Mueller
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Abstract

We explore the application of heterodyne interferometry for a weak-field coherent detection scheme. The methods detailed here will be used in ALPS II, an experiment designed to search for weakly-interacting, sub-eV particles. For ALPS II to reach its design sensitivity this detection system must be capable of accurately measuring fields with equivalent amplitudes on the order of 10$^{-5}$ photons per second or greater. We present initial results of an equivalent dark count rate on the order of $10^{-5}$ photons per second as well as successful generation and detection of a signal with a field strength equivalent to $10^{-2}$ photons per second.

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Zachary R. Bush, Simon Barke, Harold Hollis, Aaron D. Spector, Ayman Hallal, Giuseppe Messineo, D. B. Tanner, Guido Mueller. 2017-10-11. Coherent Detection of Ultra-weak Electromagnetic Fields. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.99.022001

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