Quantum-Enhanced Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Spectroscopy and Imaging

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates quantum-enhanced stimulated Brillouin scattering spectroscopy and imaging using low power lasers and squeezed light, significantly improving sensitivity for bio-imaging and materials science applications.

Contribution

First demonstration of quantum-enhanced stimulated Brillouin scattering with low power lasers and squeezed light, enabling improved sensitivity in spectroscopy and imaging.

Findings

Achieved 3.4 dB signal-to-noise ratio enhancement.

Used two-mode intensity-difference squeezed light generated in rubidium vapor.

Potential for non-invasive, high-sensitivity biological imaging.

Abstract

Brillouin microscopy is an emerging label-free imaging technique to assess local viscoelastic properties. Quantum-enhanced stimulated Brillouin scattering is demonstrated for the first time using low power continuous-wave lasers at 795~nm. A signal to noise ratio enhancement of 3.4~dB is reported by using two-mode intensity-difference squeezed light generated with the four-wave mixing process in atomic rubidium vapor. The low optical power and the excitation wavelengths in the water transparency window has the potential to provide a powerful bio-imaging technique for probing mechanical properties of biological samples prone to phototoxicity and thermal effects. The performance enhancement affordable through the use of quantum light may pave the way for significantly improved sensitivity that cannot be achieved classically. The proposed new way of utilizing squeezed light for enhanced stimulated Brillouin scattering can be easily adapted for both spectroscopic and imaging applications in materials science and biology.