Generation of squeezed light vacuum enabled by coherent population trapping

y We demonstrate the possibility to generate squeezed vacuum states of light by four wave mixing (FWM) enabled coherent population trapping in a metastable helium cell at room temperature. Contrary to usual FWM far detuned schemes, we work at resonance with an atomic transition. We investigate the properties of such states and show that the noise variances of the squeezed and anti-squeezed quadratures cannot be explained by the simple presence of losses. A specific model allows us to demonstrate the role played by spontaneous emitted photons, which experience squeezing while propagation inside of the cell. This theoretical model, which takes into account both residual absorption and spontaneous emission, leads to an excellent agreement with the experimental data without any adjusted parameter. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement

Automated summary

A study demonstrated the generation of squeezed vacuum states of light using four wave mixing at room temperature, working at resonance with an atomic transition. Investigation into the properties of these states showed that the noise variances of the squeezed and anti-squeezed quadratures cannot be explained solely by losses. A theoretical model incorporating residual absorption and spontaneous emission provided an excellent agreement with experimental data without any adjusted parameter.