Single-mode squeezing in arbitrary spatial modes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the generation of single-mode squeezed light in various complex spatial modes using a single setup with a spatial light modulator, enhancing the flexibility of quantum optics applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to produce single-mode squeezing in arbitrary spatial modes with a single SLM setup, expanding the capabilities of quantum light shaping.

Findings

Successfully generated squeezing in Laguerre-Gauss and Bessel-Gauss modes.

No detectable excess noise from the SLM at measured sidebands.

Squeezing degree limited mainly by initial squeezing and SLM-induced losses.

Abstract

As the generation of squeezed states of light has become a standard technique in laboratories, attention is increasingly directed towards adapting the optical parameters of squeezed beams to the specific requirements of individual applications. It is known that imaging, metrology, and quantum information may benefit from using squeezed light with a tailored transverse spatial mode. However, experiments have so far been limited to generating only a few squeezed spatial modes within a given setup. Here, we present the generation of single-mode squeezing in Laguerre-Gauss and Bessel-Gauss modes, as well as an arbitrary intensity pattern, all from a single setup using a spatial light modulator (SLM). The degree of squeezing obtained is limited mainly by the initial squeezing and diffractive losses introduced by the SLM, while no excess noise from the SLM is detectable at the measured sideband. The experiment illustrates the single-mode concept in quantum optics and demonstrates the viability of current SLMs as flexible tools for the spatial reshaping of squeezed light.