A Compact, Mobile, Low-Threshold Squeezed Light Source

TL;DR

This paper presents a compact, fiber-based 1550 nm squeezed light source suitable for quantum applications, demonstrating significant squeezing on a small, portable setup with potential for further enhancement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, miniaturized squeezed light source using commercially available components, combining fiber and free-space techniques for high performance.

Findings

Achieved 9.3 dB of squeezing at 5 MHz

Setup fits on a small breadboard, indicating portability

Potential to reach over 10 dB of squeezing with optimization

Abstract

Strongly squeezed light finds many important applications within the fields of quantum metrology, quantum communication and quantum computation. However, due to the bulkiness and complexity of most squeezed light sources of today, they are still not a standard tool in quantum optics labs. We have taken the first steps in realizing a compact, high-performance 1550 nm squeezing source based on commercially available fiber components combined with a free-space double-resonant parametric down-conversion source. The whole setup, including single-pass second-harmonic generation in a waveguide, fits on a small breadboard and produces 9.3 dB of squeezing at a 5 MHz sideband-frequency. The setup is currently limited by phase noise, but further optimization and development should allow for a 19" sized turn-key squeezing source capable of delivering more than 10 dB of squeezing.