arXiv subjects

Alberto M. Marino

Publications and source records attributed to Alberto M. Marino.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Atomic Resonant Single-Mode Squeezed Light from Four-Wave Mixing through Feedforward

Squeezed states of light have received renewed attention due to their applicability to quantum-enhanced sensing. To take full advantage of their reduced noise properties to enhance atomic-based sensors, it is necessary to generate narrowband near or on atomic resonance single-mode squeezed states of light. We have previously generated bright two-mode squeezed states of light, or twin beams, that can be tuned to resonance with the D1 line of $^{87}$Rb with a non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) process in a double-lambda configuration in a $^{85}$Rb vapor cell. Here we report on the use of feedforward to transfer the amplitude quantum correlations present in the twin beams to a single beam for the generation of single-mode amplitude squeezed light. With this technique we obtain a single-mode squeezed state with a squeezing level of $-2.9\pm0.1$ dB when it is tuned off-resonance and a level of $-2.0\pm 0.1$ dB when it is tuned on resonance with the D1 $F=2$ to $F'=2$ transition of $^{87}$Rb.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Comparison of coherence area measurement techniques for bright entangled twin beams

Quantum states of light with multiple spatial modes are fundamental for quantum imaging and parallel quantum information processing. Thus, their characterization, which can be achieved through measurements of the coherence area, is an important area of research. We present a comparative study between two different measurement techniques for the coherence area of bright entangled twin beams of light generated with a four-wave mixing process in a hot rubidium vapor cell. The first one provides a direct characterization of the size of the coherence area and is based on correlation measurements between spatial intensity fluctuations of the twin beams with an electron-multiplying charge-coupled-device camera. The second one provides an indirect measure and is based on a noise analysis of different spatial regions of the twin beams in the time domain with a single photodiode. We show that the indirect technique, which can be implemented with a significantly less complicated measurement scheme, gives an estimate of the size of the coherence area consistent with the direct measurement technique performed in the spatial domain.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Generation of $^{87}$Rb-resonant bright two-mode squeezed light with four-wave mixing

Squeezed states of light have found their way into a number of applications in quantum-enhanced metrology due to their reduced noise properties. In order to extend such an enhancement to metrology experiments based on atomic ensembles, an efficient light-atom interaction is required. Thus, there is a particular interest in generating narrow-band squeezed light that is on atomic resonance. This will make it possible not only to enhance the sensitivity of atomic based sensors, but also to deterministically entangle two distant atomic ensembles. We generate bright two-mode squeezed states of light, or twin beams, with a non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) process in hot $^{85}$Rb in a double-lambda configuration. Given the proximity of the energy levels in the D1 line of $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb, we are able to operate the FWM in $^{85}$Rb in a regime that generates two-mode squeezed states in which both modes are simultaneously on resonance with transitions in the D1 line of $^{87}$Rb, one mode with the $F=2$ to $F'=2$ transition and the other one with the $F=1$ to $F'=1$ transition. For this configuration, we obtain an intensity difference squeezing level of $-3.5$ dB. Moreover, the intensity difference squeezing increases to $-5.4$ dB and $-5.0$ dB when only one of the modes of the squeezed state is resonant with the D1 $F=2$ to $F'=2$ or $F=1$ to $F'=1$ transition of $^{87}$Rb, respectively.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Quantum-Enhanced Plasmonic Sensing

Quantum resources can enhance the sensitivity of a device beyond the classical shot noise limit and, as a result, revolutionize the field of metrology through the development of quantum-enhanced sensors. In particular, plasmonic sensors, which are widely used in biological and chemical sensing applications, offer a unique opportunity to bring such an enhancement to real-life devices. Here, we use bright entangled twin beams to enhance the sensitivity of a plasmonic sensor used to measure local changes in refractive index. We demonstrate a 56% quantum enhancement in the sensitivity of state-of-the-art plasmonic sensor with measured sensitivities on the order of $10^{-10}$RIU$/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$, nearly 5 orders of magnitude better than previous proof-of-principle implementations of quantum-enhanced plasmonic sensors. These results promise significant enhancements in ultratrace label free plasmonic sensing and will find their way into areas ranging from biomedical applications to chemical detection.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Rotation of the noise ellipse for squeezed vacuum light generated via four-wave-mixing

We report the generation of a squeezed vacuum state of light whose noise ellipse rotates as a function of the detection frequency. The squeezed state is generated via a four-wave mixing process in a vapor of 85Rb. We observe that rotation varies with experimental parameters such as pump power and laser detunings. We use a theoretical model based on the Heisenberg-Langevin formalism to describe this effect. Our model can be used to investigate the parameter space and to tailor the ellipse rotation in order to obtain an optimum squeezing angle, for example, for coupling to an interferometer whose optimal noise quadrature varies with frequency.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Imaging using quantum noise properties of light

We show that it is possible to estimate the shape of an object by measuring only the fluctuations of a probing field, allowing us to expose the object to a minimal light intensity. This scheme, based on noise measurements through homodyne detection, is useful in the regime where the number of photons is low enough that direct detection with a photodiode is difficult but high enough such that photon counting is not an option. We generate a few-photon state of multi-spatial-mode vacuum-squeezed twin beams using four-wave mixing and direct one of these twin fields through a binary intensity mask whose shape is to be imaged. Exploiting either the classical fluctuations in a single beam or quantum correlations between the twin beams, we demonstrate that under some conditions quantum correlations can provide an enhancement in sensitivity when estimating the shape of the object.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Temporally multiplexed storage of images in a Gradient Echo Memory

We study the storage and retrieval of images in a hot atomic vapor using the gradient echo memory protocol. We demonstrate that this technique allows for the storage of multiple spatial modes. We study both spatial and temporal multiplexing by storing a sequence of two different images in the atomic vapor. The effect of atomic diffusion on the spatial resolution is discussed and characterized experimentally. For short storage time a normalized cross-correlation between a retrieved image and its input of 88 % is reported.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Squeezed Light and Entangled Images from Four-Wave-Mixing in Hot Rubidium Vapor

Entangled multi-spatial-mode fields have interesting applications in quantum information, such as parallel quantum information protocols, quantum computing, and quantum imaging. We study the use of a nondegenerate four-wave mixing process in rubidium vapor at 795 nm to demonstrate generation of quantum-entangled images. Owing to the lack of an optical resonator cavity, the four-wave mixing scheme generates inherently multi-spatial-mode output fields. We have verified the presence of entanglement between the multi-mode beams by analyzing the amplitude difference and the phase sum noise using a dual homodyne detection scheme, measuring more than 4 dB of squeezing in both cases. This paper will discuss the quantum properties of amplifiers based on four-wave-mixing, along with the multi mode properties of such devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Deterministic Secure Communications using Two-Mode Squeezed States

We propose a scheme for quantum cryptography that uses the squeezing phase of a two-mode squeezed state to transmit information securely between two parties. The basic principle behind this scheme is the fact that each mode of the squeezed field by itself does not contain any information regarding the squeezing phase. The squeezing phase can only be obtained through a joint measurement of the two modes. This, combined with the fact that it is possible to perform remote squeezing measurements, makes it possible to implement a secure quantum communication scheme in which a deterministic signal can be transmitted directly between two parties while the encryption is done automatically by the quantum correlations present in the two-mode squeezed state.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Bichromatic Local Oscillator for Detection of Two-Mode Squeezed States of Light

We present a new technique for the detection of two-mode squeezed states of light that allows for a simple characterization of these quantum states. The usual detection scheme, based on heterodyne measurements, requires the use of a local oscillator with a frequency equal to the mean of the frequencies of the two modes of the squeezed field. As a result, unless the two modes are close in frequency, a high-frequency shot-noise-limited detection system is needed. We propose the use of a bichromatic field as the local oscillator in the heterodyne measurements. By the proper selection of the frequencies of the bichromatic field, it is possible to arbitrarily select the frequency around which the squeezing information is located, thus making it possible to use a low-bandwidth detection system and to move away from any excess noise present in the system.

quant-ph↗