A decrease in the noise Stokes field modulation during the induced Mandel’shtam-Brillouin scattering in a single-mode optical fiber with high Rayleigh scattering losses

Noise fluctuations of the Stokes field intensity during the induced Mandel’shtam-Brillouin scattering (IMBS) of microsecond pumping radiation pulses in a 300-m-long single-mode optical fiber with 17 dB/km losses were experimentally studied. As the pumping pulse width increases from 20 to 600 μms, the noise modulation amplitude of the IMBS intensity and the IMBS line width tend to decrease. This phenomenon is explained by a distributed feedback mechanism related to the double Rayleigh backscattering of the Stokes component of IMBS.     

Quantum phase measurements and non-classical polarization states of light

Abstract

In our paper we consider the non-classical behaviour of both the Hermitian (observable) Stokes parameters of light and the phase difference of two modes that describe the quantum polarization states of optical field. To characterize the degree of polarization of light we introduce a new quantity taking into account the quantum properties of different quantum states of two orthogonally polarized modes. The problem of determination of the phase difference in two modes of optical field for the quantum polarization states of light is discussed. To describe in general such a quantum field we introduce two pairs of the phase operators: the phase angles for the Stokes parameters of light in a three-dimensional picture of the Poincaré sphere. We also consider a special type of the eight-port polarization interferometer (polarimeter) for simultaneous homodyne detection of both the Stokes parameters of light and the polarization phase operators and their fluctuations as well. Using an anisotropic (spatioperiodic) Kerr-like nonlinear medium associated with the polarization interferometer we could generate and also observe the polarization-squeezed phase states of light. The fluctuations in the phase difference between two orthogonally polarized modes for these non-classical states are less than the fluctuations for light in coherent state.     

Approximate Cramer-Rao bound on Doppler error in correlation-processing relatively narrowband noise radar

Limitations on accuracy of Doppler estimation in continuous-wave noise radar with correlation processing are studied. Second-order properties of output of the correlation receiver are evaluated and an approximate Cramer-Rao bound on errors of Doppler measurement is derived. The accuracy of Doppler measurements is found to be affected by the following factors: power spectral density of noise signal, frequency response of the low-pass filter in correlator, observation time, velocity of the target and signal to noise ratio. It is shown that the random nature of the transmitted signal induces additional fluctuations at the output of correlator which limit the accuracy even in the infinite signal to noise case. Qualitative extension of the results to a case covering multiple targets and clutter is made. It is argued that the performance will decrease and that increasing transmitted power may not provide significant improvement when clutter is present.     

Thermal noise and correlations in photon detection

The standard expressions for the noise that is due to photon fluctuations in thermal background radiation typically apply only for a single detector and are often strictly valid only for single-mode illumination. I describe a technique for rigorously calculating thermal photon noise, which allows for arbitrary numbers of optical inputs and detectors, multiple-mode illumination, and both internal and external noise sources. Several simple examples are given, and a general result is obtained for multimode detectors. The formalism uses scattering matrices, noise correlation matrices, and some fundamentals of quantum optics. The covariance matrix of the photon noise at the detector outputs is calculated and includes the Hanbury Brown and Twiss photon-bunching correlations. These correlations can be of crucial importance, and they explain why instruments such as autocorrelation spectrometers and pairwise-combined interferometers are competitive (and indeed common) at radio wavelengths but have a sensitivity disadvantage at optical wavelengths. The case of autocorrelation spectrometers is studied in detail.     

The Interferometer as an Optical Network

Abstract

We consider a generic interferometric set-up as a device to record interference fringes. The system is characterized by two variable transmission beam-splitters. A coherent signal is measured and its noise properties are manipulated by mixing in a squeezed vacuum through the second input port. The performance is optimized either by minimizing the noise at the dark and the light fringes, or alternatively by keeping it below the standard quantum limit for all phase angles observed. The analysis is carried out using a quantum optical network formalism generalizing the classical Jones calculus. The results obtained are interpreted and explained using the Wigner function for the output signals.     

Modal analysis of astronomical bolometric interferometers

A procedure is described for modeling the behavior of astronomical bolometric interferometers. The scheme is based on the notion of eigenfields. The input and output eigenfields are those field distributions on the sky and at the detector to which the individual telescopes of an interferometer can couple. Eigenfields are more fundamental than eigenmodes and provide, regardless of optical configuration, an orthogonal basis for propagating the second-order statistical properties of a field from a source through the telescopes, through the beam combiners, and onto the detectors. With our scheme, it is possible to calculate the power coupled into coherent, partially coherent, and incoherent imaging arrays and to include the spatially distributed noise sources of the telescopes themselves.     

A weak magnetic field measurement system using micro-fluxgate sensors and delta-sigma interface

This paper presents a weak magnetic field measurement system using micro-fluxgate (FG) sensors and a sensor signal processing technique using the delta-sigma modulation in the negative feedback loop. The feedback of the lowpass filtered bitstream output of a delta-sigma modulator to the magnetic field improves system linearity, hysteresis, and stability. In spite of the fact that the second-order delta-sigma modulator is used, the third-order noise shaping can be obtained in the digital output bit-stream by the use of an integrator in the loop. This improves the SNR of the digital output. The measured noise of the implemented system meets the measured noise of the FG sensing element itself. The weak magnetic field in the range of the Earth's magnetic field is successfully measured. The nonlinearity error is less than 0.4% in the range of /spl plusmn/100 /spl mu/T.     

Study of the excess noise associated with demodulation of ultra-short infrared pulses

The demodulation of ultra-short light pulses with photodetectors is accompanied by excess phase noise at the pulse repetition rate and harmonics in the spectrum of the photocurrent. The major contribution to this noise is power fluctuations of the detected pulse train that, if not compensated for, can seriously limit the stability of frequency transfer from optical to microwave domain. By making use of an infrared femtosecond laser, we measured the spectral density of the excess phase noise, as well as power-to-phase conversion for different types of InGaAs photodetectors. Noise measurements were performed with a novel type of dual-channel readout system using a fiber coupled beam splitter. Strong suppression of the excess phase noise was observed in both channels of the measurement system when the average power of the femtosecond pulse train was stabilized. The results of this study are important for the development of low-noise microwave sources derived from optical "clocks" and optical frequency synthesis.     

Wigner representation for entanglement swapping using parametric down conversion: the role of vacuum fluctuations in teleportation

We apply the Wigner formalism of quantum optics in the Heisenberg picture to study the role of the zeropoint field fluctuations in entanglement swapping produced via parametric down conversion. It is shown that the generation of mode entanglement between two initially non-interacting photons is related to the quadruple correlation properties of the electromagnetic field, through the stochastic properties of the vacuum. The relationship between the process of transferring entanglement and the different zeropoint inputs at the non-linear crystal and the Bell-state analyser is emphasized.     

Construction of deformed photon-added nonlinear coherent states with negative m for the one-mode field in a Kerr medium

In this paper, based on the nonlinear coherent states formalism and using the Hamiltonian for a single mode field in a Kerr medium, the deformed photon-added nonlinear coherent states with negative m corresponding to the nonharmonic oscillators are constructed. In addition, some of the nonclassical properties associated with these states such as the Mandel parameter, quadrature squeezing and second-order correlation function are investigated. It is found that the deformed photon-added nonlinear coherent states with negative m for the one-mode field in a Kerr medium are nonclassical states.     

利用欠阻尼二阶线性随机共振抑噪的模型设计及实现

以经典力学模型——质量-阻尼-弹簧欠阻尼二阶线性系统为研究对象,当系统的阻尼系数和固有频率同时受乘性高斯噪声干扰时,利用此系统产生的随机共振来消除此类噪声.理论分析表明,欠阻尼二阶线性系统中存在随机共振现象,系统的平均输出幅度增益呈现非单调变化,不仅在一定条件下大于无噪声时的增益,而且调节适当的系统参数和噪声强度能够提高幅度增益.因此,采用可视化仿真软件SIMULINK建立仿真模型,并进行实例模拟.仿真进一步表明,通过调节适当的系统参数或噪声强度,使系统处于共振区域,就会把夹杂在噪声中的被测信号突现出来,从而实现了弱信号的检测,证实该方法消除乘性噪声的可行性和有效性.     

Effects of chromatic dispersion on microwave and millimetre wave carrier transmission in optical fibres

Abstract

A new formalism for the analysis of optical (phase) noise in fibre-optic communication links is presented. The formalism is applied to an amplitude modulated millimetre-wave (or microwave) link with chromatic dispersion. A realistic link model is described and rigorously solved. In general, the power spectrum of the output signal consists of a ‘comb’ of spectral components with centre separation equal to the modulation frequency. Each spectral component contains a smooth ‘noise’ curve and a narrow spike which represents a modulated field component (carrier). With the new method it is possible to compute each spectral component and, consequently, the full power spectrum. From the power spectrum one can compute quantities relevant to the link design, in particular the carrier-to-noise ratio. Several graphs are presented, showing the power spectrum and the carrier-to-noise ratio for different values of the modulation frequency, link dispersion and modulation index. Several conclusions regarding the millimetre-wave fibre-optic link are dis-cussed.     

Squeezing from Raman Scattering in Optical Parametric Oscillators

Abstract

The squeezing properties of the Raman scattering process which takes place when the lower output frequency from a non-degenerate optical parametric interaction approaches a resonance of the nonlinear medium placed inside an optical resonant cavity are presented. The linear stability analysis is performed and the spectrum for the output fields is given in terms of the quadrature phase components in the Wigner representation. Perfect squeezing for the amplitude difference between the output Stokes and anti-Stokes modes at the Hopf bifurcation point is obtained.     

《二值噪声作用下线性系统的随机共振》

研究了二值噪声用下的二阶过阻尼线性系统的随机共振现象。基于线性系统理论和相关删去法方法,得到了系统平均输出幅度增益的精确表达式。研究表明：输出幅度增益是噪声的强度和相关时间、系统阻尼系数,以及激励信号的频率的非单调函数;另外,适当的噪声参数和系统参数可以使噪声情况下的输出幅度增益大于无噪声时的输出幅度增益。     

Transmission of linearly polarized light through a single-mode fiber with random fluctuations of birefringence

A simple theoretical formalism is developed to describe the effect of transmission on linearly polarized light through a fiber with random fluctuations of birefringence. We conclude that, for any optical fiber that does not experience polarization-dependent gain or loss, there exist two orientations for linearly polarized light input into the optical fiber that will also exit the fiber linearly polarized. We report experimental results that verify this prediction and also investigate its practical implications and limitations; in particular we investigate the stability of these linearly polarized output states in laboratory conditions.     

Intensity noise reduction of twin beams by a passive semiconductor medium

Abstract

A passive optical system is proposed to explore the intensity quantum correlation of two twin beams to reduce the photon noise of one of them. It consists of using a semiconductor medium inside an optical cavity, which behaves as a nonlinear medium presenting a crossed Kerr effect. The intensity fluctuations of one beam modify the resonance condition of the cavity for the other beam and therefore its intensity. The medium is described microscopically within the two-level atom model. It is shown that, under typical experimental conditions, this system may produce noise reduction.     

Ultrafast sum-frequency polarization beats in twin Markovian stochastic correlation

An analytic closed form for the second-order or fourth-order Markovian stochastic correlation of attosecond sum-frequency polarization beat (ASPB) can be obtained in the extremely Doppler-broadened limit. The homodyne detected ASPB signal is shown to be particularly sensitive to the statistical properties of the Markovian stochastic light fields with arbitrary bandwidth. The physical explanation for this is that the Gaussian-amplitude field undergoes stronger intensity fluctuations than a chaotic field. On the other hand, the intensity (amplitude) fluctuations of the Gaussian-amplitude field or the chaotic field are always much larger than the pure phase fluctuations of the phase-diffusion field. The field correlation has weakly influence on the ASPB signal when the laser has narrow bandwidth. In contrast, when the laser has broadband linewidth, the ASPB signal shows resonant-nonresonant cross correlation, and the sensitivities of ASPB signal to three Markovian stochastic models increase as time delay is increased. A Doppler-free precision in the measurement of the energy-level sum can be achieved with an arbitrary bandwidth. The advantage of ASPB is that the ultrafast modulation period 900as can still be improved, because the energy-level interval between ground state and excited state can be widely separated.     

Pulsed full-color digital holography with a hydrogen Raman shifter

We demonstrate pulsed full-color digital holography with a hydrogen Raman shifter as a single source of highly directional multiwavelength light. For the primary (blue, green, red) color channels we utilize the first three Stokes beam outputs (415.9, 502.9, and 635.9 nm) of the shifter (gas pressure, 1.38 MPa) that is pumped by the 355-nm output of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (5.4-ns pulse width, 10-Hz repetition rate). We have developed a simple beam-conditioning system to improve the transverse intensity distribution for the individual Stokes beams and to equalize their relative intensities. Full-color holographic imaging is demonstrated with transmitting and reflecting colored objects. Also, the optical noise characteristics of the reconstructed images are investigated.