Researchers from The University of Tokyo and NTT just set a new benchmark in quantum optics. They achieved an impressive 10.1 decibels of squeezed light using a broadband waveguide optical parametric amplifier.
Kazuki Hirota and Takahiro Kashiwazaki led the team. Their work goes beyond previous results and nudges the field forward, especially in quantum noise reduction—which is vital for quantum computing, precision sensing, and other ambitious tech dreams in the quantum era.
Breaking Barriers in Quantum Noise Reduction
Squeezed light is a special quantum state where noise in one property of light drops below the standard quantum limit. This lets scientists push measurement precision further than ever before.
It’s a big deal for technologies like optical quantum computers and ultra-sensitive detectors. But getting high levels of squeezing has always been tough, mostly because of losses and phase instabilities in optical setups.
A Record 10.1 Decibels of Squeezing
The team used a broadband waveguide optical parametric amplifier and reached 10.1 dB of squeezed light. That’s a new high, beating earlier experimental results and opening new doors for quantum performance.
This level of squeezing hits thresholds needed for fault-tolerant quantum computation with Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill (GKP) coding. If you care about reliable quantum computing, that’s a big step.
Innovative Phase-Locking Without Loss
One standout innovation? Their phase-locking technique. Normally, phase stability checks require tapping off some squeezed light, which weakens the effect.
This team at Tokyo and NTT found a way around that. They didn’t need to tap any light at all.
Minimized Phase Fluctuations
They brought phase fluctuations down to just 9 milliradians, which is pretty remarkable. By ditching the usual light tapping during phase detection, they kept almost all the squeezing intact.
Harnessing Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguides
Their optical parametric amplifier uses a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. PPLN is famous for strong nonlinear optical interactions, which are key for generating squeezed light.
Terahertz-Level Bandwidth Performance
Thanks to PPLN, the amplifier reached terahertz-level bandwidth. That massively expands the range for quantum processing.
High bandwidths like this support large-scale operations, making the approach a good fit for scalable optical quantum tech.
All-Optical Feedforward Stability
They also added an all-optical feedforward control system to boost performance. This made the setup more stable and kept total optical losses down to just 8 percent.
That’s a significant improvement, since it eases the usual trade-off between phase-locking accuracy and squeezing strength.
Advantages for Practical Quantum Systems
The modular design can scale up to handle more quantum information and broader bandwidths. That’s key if we want analog optical quantum computers to tackle complex simulations beyond what classical machines can do.
Implications for Next-Generation Quantum Technologies
Quantum noise reduction at this level isn’t just a minor upgrade—it’s a foundational technology for what comes next in quantum platforms.
With higher squeezing, quantum sensors get more sensitive. Communications become more secure. Computing architectures can be more fault-tolerant.
Applications Beyond Computing
And honestly, the impact goes further than just computation. This breakthrough could accelerate:
- Quantum sensing for things like gravitational wave detection or even medical imaging
- Quantum communications with ultra-secure data transmission
- Metrology, where new levels of precision could change scientific standards
Conclusion: A Step Toward Scalable Quantum Systems
The University of Tokyo and NTT team just set a new record in squeezed light generation. It’s a big moment for quantum research.
They managed to break past the usual efficiency–stability trade-off. Noise levels dropped to a point that honestly seemed out of reach not long ago.
On top of that, they achieved terahertz-level bandwidth with impressively low losses. It’s a crucial move toward practical, scalable analog optical quantum computing—something folks in the field have been chasing for years.
Could this kick off a fresh wave of quantum-enabled tech? It sure feels like we’re on the edge of redefining how we compute, communicate, and measure things in the coming decades.
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Here is the source article for this story: Team Generates 10.1±0.2-dB Squeezed Light Via Broadband Waveguide Optical Parametric Amplifier With Improved Phase Locking