Characterizing Squeezed Light in the Quest Experiment

POSTER

Abstract

Squeezed vacuum states provide a crucial tool for increasing gravitational wave detector precision capabilities beyond the standard quantum limit. The QUEST experiment makes use of the squeezed states of light to increase detector sensitivity, lowering the ’shot noise’ threshold. Squeezing light at 1064 nm using a non-linear crystal, QUEST expects to produce 6dB of squeezing, producing sensitivity to interferometric mirror displacements of ≈ 10-19m/√Hz. We inject squeezed light beam into one of the two twin interferometers in the QUEST experiment, and characterize the squeezed beam. The squeezed beam and coherent beam were maximally overlapped and mode-matched 88%. The power losses of each optic in the squeezed beam injection path are detailed. Though ideal overlap between the coherent and squeezed beams was not achieved, 3 dB of anti-squeezing and ≈ 0.5 dB of squeezing were produced. Next steps for squeezing characterization are also proposed.

* I would like to thank the National Science Foundation, grant number PHY- 1950830, for funding the program.

Publication: F. Meylahn, B. Willke, and H. Vahlbruch, Squeezed states of light for future gravitational wave detectors at a wave- length of 1550 nm, Physical Review Letters 129 (2022).

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Presenters

  • Arianna Meinking

    Harvey Mudd College

Authors

  • Arianna Meinking

    Harvey Mudd College