Ultra-low phase noise squeezed vacuum source for gravitational wave detectors

E. Oelker, G. Mansell, M. Tse, J. Miller, F. Matichard, L. Barsotti, P. Fritschel, D. E. McClelland, M. Evans, N. Mavalvala

Research output: Contribution to journalLetter/Newsletterpeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Squeezed states of light are a valuable resource for reducing quantum noise in precision measurements. Injection of squeezed vacuum states has emerged as an important technique for reducing quantum shot noise, which is a fundamental limitation to the sensitivity of interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Realizing the most benefit from squeezed-state injection requires lowering optical losses and also minimizing squeezed quadrature fluctuations-or phase noise-to ensure that the large noise in the antisqueezed quadrature does not contaminate the measurement quadrature. Here, we present an audio band squeezed vacuum source with 1.3+0.7 -0.5 mrad of phase noise. This is a nearly tenfold improvement over previously reported measurements, improving prospects for squeezing enhancements in current and future gravitational wave detectors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)682-685
Number of pages4
JournalOptica
Volume3
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 20 2016
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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