Standard Quantum Limit | previous | next | feedback |
Acronym: SQL
Definition: a limit for noise levels set by quantum mechanics
The standard quantum limit for the noise of some optical measurement scheme usually refers to the minimum level of quantum noise which can be obtained without the use of squeezed states of light. For example, the standard quantum limit for high-frequency intensity noise of a laser is the shot noise limit, and a lower intensity noise level can be obtained only with amplitude-squeezed light. In other cases, there is a standard quantum limit e.g. for phase noise (→ Schawlow–Townes linewidth), for the sensitivity of an interferometer [2] and for certain correlations between two optical beams.
Bibliography
| [1] | C. M. Caves, “Quantum-mechanical radiation-pressure fluctuations in an interferometer”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 45 (2), 75 (1980) |
| [2] | M. T. Jaekel and S. Reynaud, “Quantum limits in interferometric measurements”, Europhys. Lett. 13, 301 (1990) |
| [3] | H. M. Wiseman, “Light amplification without stimulated emission: beyond the standard quantum limit to the laser linewidth”, Phys. Rev. A 60 (5), 4083 (1999) |
| [4] | V. Giovannetti et al., “Quantum-enhanced measurements: beating the standard quantum limit”, Science 306 (5700), 1330 (2004) |
See also: quantum noise, squeezed states of light, shot noise
Categories: fluctuations and noise, quantum optics
