Squeezed vacuum from a monolithic optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We have developed a stable, reliable source of continuous-wave squeezed vacuum at 1064 nm, using a subthreshold monolithic lithium niobate optical parametric oscillator. Quantum-noise reduction below the vacuum noise level in a bandwidth of 30 MHz with a maximum of 5.5 ± 0.2 dB at 2 MHz is demonstrated. The reconstruction of the Wigner function of a continuous-wave, strongly squeezed-vacuum state is obtained.