Strong Optomechanical Squeezing of Light

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates strong optomechanical squeezing of light by exploiting quantum interactions between laser light and a mechanical resonator, achieving 1.7 dB below shot noise.

Contribution

The work presents the first experimental demonstration of significant optomechanical squeezing using a membrane resonator in an optical cavity, with a well-calibrated model explaining the results.

Findings

Achieved 1.7 +/- 0.2 dB squeezing below shot noise.

Squeezing peak near mechanical resonance matches theoretical model.

Thermal motion accounted for without additional classical noise.

Abstract

We create squeezed light by exploiting the quantum nature of the mechanical interaction between laser light and a membrane mechanical resonator embedded in an optical cavity. The radiation pressure shot noise (fluctuating optical force from quantum laser amplitude noise) induces resonator motion well above that of thermally driven motion. This motion imprints a phase shift on the laser light, hence correlating the amplitude and phase noise, a consequence of which is optical squeezing. We experimentally demonstrate strong and continuous optomechanical squeezing of 1.7 +/- 0.2 dB below the shot noise level. The peak level of squeezing measured near the mechanical resonance is well described by a model whose parameters are independently calibrated and that includes thermal motion of the membrane with no other classical noise sources.