A 2.8-dB polarization squeezing of the Stokes operatorS^for the rubidium D line (795 nm) is achieved, with the lowest squeezing band at an audio frequency of 2.6 kHz. It is synthetized by a bright coherent beam and a squeezed vacuum, which are orthogonally polarized and share same frequency. Two methods are applied to support the optical parametric oscillator: an orthogonally-polarized locking beam that precludes residual unwanted interference and quantum noise locking method that locks the squeezing phase. Besides, the usage of low noise balanced detector, mode cleaner and the optical isolator helped to improve the audio frequency detection. The squeezing level is limited by absorption-induced losses at short wavelengths, which is 397.5 nm. The generated polarization squeezed light can be used in a quantum enhanced magnetometer to increase the measurement sensitivity.

We report the experimental demonstration of polarization squeezed beam at 795 nm by combining a quadrature squeezed beam with a coherent beam. The quadrature squeezed beam is generated by a degenerate optical parametric amplifier based on a PPKTP crystal.Stokes parameter squeezing of -3.8 dB and anti squeezing of +5.0 dB is observed. This polarization squeezed beam resonant to rubidium D 1 line has potential applications in quantum information networks and precise measurement beyond the shot noise limit.

Squeezed states are important sources in quantum physics, which have potential applications in fields such as quantum teleportation, quantum information networks, quantum memory, and quantum metrology and precise measurements. For our interest, the squeezed vacuum will be used in the quantum-enhanced optical atomic magnetometers, filling the vacuum port of the probe beam to improve measurement sensitivity. Based on the sub-threshold optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with PPKTP crystal, the squeezed vacuum at rubidium D1 line of 795 nm is obtained. In our work, we investigate the noise sources in an OPO system. By carefully controlling the classical noise source, the squeezing band extends to the analysis frequency of 2.6 kHz. The flat squeezing trace is 2.8 dB below the shot noise limit. In our work, we focus on the difference between the squeezing results at the analysis frequency of kilohertz regime at two different wavelengths, 1064 nm and 795 nm. The difference mainly comes from the absorption of 795 nm laser and its second harmonic at 397.5 nm in crystal (397.5 nm laser is at the edge of transparent window of PPKTP crystal that has an absorption index much higher than at other wavelength). The absorption induced nonlinear loss and thermal instability greatly affect the squeezing results, which is discussed in our work. Squeezing level at 795 nm is worse than at 1064 nm due to the above-mentioned factors. Noise coupling to the detection system limits the squeezing band. In the audio frequency band, squeezing is easily submerged in roll-up noises and the measured squeezing level is limited. Two factors limit the obtained squeezing:the technical noise induced in the detection and the squeezing degradation by the noise coupling of the control beams. In experiment, we carefully control the classical noise at analytical frequency of kilohertz by means of a vacuum-injected OPO, a counter-propagating cavity locking beam with orthogonal polarization, low noise homodyne detector, stable experimental system and quantum noise locking method for squeezing phase locking. Firstly, to preclude the classical noise from coupling the laser source, we use the vacuum injected OPO. A signal beam helps optimize the parametric gain and is blocked in the squeezing measurement process. In order to maintain the OPO, a counter-propagating beam with orthogonal polarization is used for locking the cavity. Then, a low noise balanced homodyne detector with a common-mode rejection ratio of 45 dB helps improve the audio frequency detection. Finally, the quantum noise locking provides a method to lock the relative phase between the coherent beam and the squeezed vacuum field. With the combination of these technical improvements, a squeezed vacuum of 2.8 dB is obtained at the analysis frequency of 2.6-100 kHz. The obtained squeezing level is mainly limited by the relatively large loss in OPO, which is induced by ultra-violet absorption in PPKTP crystal. The generated squeezed field is used to reduce the polarization noise of probe beam in an optical magnetometer, in order to increase detection sensitivity.