Versatile Wideband Balanced Detector for Quantum Optical Homodyne Tomography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile, high-performance wideband homodyne detector for quantum optical measurements, capable of accurate quadrature measurements in both continuous-wave and pulsed regimes up to 250 MHz.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive theory and practical method for designing and evaluating a wideband homodyne detector using affordable, commercially available components.

Findings

Detector exhibits over 13 dB shot noise clearance.

Operates linearly from DC to 100 MHz.

Suitable for quantum optical field quadrature measurements at up to 250 MHz.

Abstract

We present a comprehensive theory and an easy to follow method for the design and construction of a wideband homodyne detector for time-domain quantum measurements. We show how one can evaluate the performance of a detector in a specific time-domain experiment based on electronic spectral characteristic of that detector. We then present and characterize a high-performance detector constructed using inexpensive, commercially available components such as low-noise high-speed operational amplifiers and high-bandwidth photodiodes. Our detector shows linear behavior up to a level of over 13 dB clearance between shot noise and electronic noise, in the range from DC to 100 MHz. The detector can be used for measuring quantum optical field quadratures both in the continuous-wave and pulsed regimes with pulse repetition rates up to about 250 MHz.