Non-linear and quantum optics of a type II OPO containing a birefringent element Part 1: Classical operation

We describe theoretically the main characteristics of the steady state regime of a type II Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) containing a birefringent plate. In such a device the signal and idler waves are at the same time linearly coupled by the plate and nonlinearly coupled by the $\chi^{(2)}$ crystal. This mixed coupling allows, in some well-defined range of the control parameters, a frequency degenerate operation as well as phase locking between the signal and idler modes. We describe here a complete model taking into account all possible effects in the system, \emph{i.e.} arbitrary rotation of the waveplate, non perfect phase matching, ring and linear cavities. This model is able to explain the detailed features of the experiments performed with this system.Comment: To be published in EPJ

Experimental investigation of amplitude and phase quantum correlations in a type II OPO above threshold: from the non-degenerate to the degenerate operation

We describe a very stable type II optical parametric oscillator operated above threshold which provides 9.7 $\pm$ 0.5 dB (89%) of quantum noise reduction on the intensity difference of the signal and idler modes. We also report the first experimental study by homodyne detection of the generated bright two-mode state in the case of frequency degenerate operation obtained by introducing a birefringent plate inside the optical cavity

Imaging the collective excitations of an ultracold gas using statistical correlations

Advanced data analysis techniques have proved to be crucial for extracting information from noisy images. Here we show that principal component analysis can be successfully applied to ultracold gases to unveil their collective excitations. By analyzing the correlations in a series of images we are able to identify the collective modes which are excited, determine their population, image their eigenfunction, and measure their frequency. Our method allows to discriminate the relevant modes from other noise components and is robust with respect to the data sampling procedure. It can be extended to other dynamical systems including cavity polariton quantum gases or trapped ions.Comment: See also the supplementary material and the video abstrac

Breakdown of scale invariance in a quasi-two-dimensional Bose gas due to the presence of the third dimension

In this Rapid Communication, we describe how the presence of the third dimension may break the scale invariance in a two-dimensional Bose gas in a pancake-shaped trap. From the two-dimensional perspective, the possibility of a weak spilling of the atomic density beyond the ground-state of the confinement alters the two-dimensional chemical potential; in turn, this correction no longer supports scale invariance. We compare experimental data with numerical and analytic perturbative results and find a good agreement.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, published in PRA Rapid Com

Non-linear and quantum optics of a type II OPO containing a birefringent element Part 2 : bright entangled beams generation

We describe theoretically the quantum properties of atype-II Optical Parametric Oscillator containing a birefringent plate which induces a linear coupling between the orthogonally polarized signal and idler beams and results in phase locking between these two beams. As in a classical OPO, the signal and idler waves show large quantum correlations which can be measured experimentally due to the phase locking between the two beams. We study the influence of the waveplate on the various criteria characterizing quantum correlations. We show in particular that the quantum correlations can be maximized by using optimized quadratures.Comment: to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

A detector for continuous measurement of ultra-cold atoms in real time

We present the first detector capable of recording high-bandwidth real time atom number density measurements of a Bose Einstein condensate. Based on a two-color Mach-Zehnder interferometer, our detector has a response time that is six orders of magnitude faster than current detectors based on CCD cameras while still operating at the shot-noise limit. With this minimally destructive system it may be possible to implement feedback to stabilize a Bose-Einstein condensate or an atom laser.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted to optics letter

Probing superfluidity in a quasi two-dimensional Bose gas through its local dynamics

We report direct evidence of superfluidity in a quasi two-dimensional Bose gas by observing its dynamical response to a collective excitation. Relying on a novel local correlation analysis, we are able to probe inhomogeneous clouds and reveal their local dynamics. We identify in this way the superfluid and thermal phases inside the gas and locate the boundary at which the Berezinskii--Kosterlitz--Thouless crossover occurs. This new analysis also allows to evidence the coupling of the two fluids which induces at finite temperatures damping rates larger than the usual Landau damping

Experimental evidence of spontaneous symmetry breaking in intracavity type-II second harmonic generation with triple resonance

We describe an experiment showing a spontaneous symmetry breaking phenomenon between the intensities of the ordinary and extraordinary components of the fundamental field in intracavity type-II harmonic generation. It is based on a triply resonant dual cavity containing a type II phase matched $\chi^{(2)}$ crystal pumped at the fundamental frequency $\omega_0$. The pump beam generates in the cavity a second harmonic mode at frequency $2\omega_0$ which acts as a pump for frequency degenerate type II parametric down conversion. Under operating conditions which are precisely symmetric with respect to the ordinary and extraordinary components of the fundamental wave, we have observed a breaking of the symmetry on the intensities of these two waves in agreement with the theoretical predictions.Comment: submitte

Generation of two-color polarization-entangled optical beams with a self-phase-locked two-crystal Optical Parametric Oscillator

A new device to generate polarization-entangled light in the continuous variable regime is introduced. It consists of an Optical Parametric Oscillator with two type-II phase-matched non-linear crystals orthogonally oriented, associated with birefringent elements for adjustable linear coupling. We give in this paper a theoretical study of its classical and quantum properties. It is shown that two optical beams with adjustable frequencies and well-defined polarization can be emitted. The Stokes parameters of the two beams are entangled. The principal advantage of this setup is the possibility to directly generate polarization entangled light without the need of mixing four modes on beam splitters as required in current experimental setups. This device opens new directions for the study of light-matter interfaces and generation of multimode non-classical light and higher dimensional phase space