Sub-shot-noise heterodyne polarimetry

Abstract

We report the experimental demonstration of a heterodyne polarization rotation measurement with a noise floor 4.8 dB below the optical shot noise, by use of the classically phase-locked quantum twin beams emitted above threshold by an ultrastable type-II Na:KTP CW optical parametric oscillator. We believe this is the largest noise reduction achieved to date on optical phase-difference measurements.

3 pages, 2 figs, some clarifications and one reference added