A squeezed state source using radiation pressure induced rigidity

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel interferometer setup that uses radiation pressure induced rigidity to generate measurable quantum squeezing, potentially enhancing gravitational-wave detectors and testing quantum radiation pressure effects.

Contribution

It introduces a new experimental design leveraging optical detuning and mechanical rigidity to produce significant ponderomotive squeezing in an interferometer.

Findings

Expected ~5 dB squeezing below 1 kHz

Squeezing is frequency-independent in the low-frequency range

Design enables testing of quantum radiation pressure effects

Abstract

We propose an experiment to extract ponderomotive squeezing from an interferometer with high circulating power and low mass mirrors. In this interferometer, optical resonances of the arm cavities are detuned from the laser frequency, creating a mechanical rigidity that dramatically suppresses displacement noise. After taking into account imperfection of optical elements, laser noise, and other technical noise consistent with existing laser and optical technologies and typical laboratory environments, we expect the output light from the interferometer to have measurable squeezing of ~5 dB, with a frequency-independent squeeze angle for frequencies below 1 kHz. This squeeze source is well suited for injection into a gravitational-wave interferometer, leading to improved sensitivity from reduction in the quantum noise. Furthermore, this design provides an experimental test of quantum-limited radiation pressure effects, which have not previously been tested.