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Quantum non-demolition measurements in optics

Nature volume 396, pages 537–542 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

Quantum non-demolition measurements are designed to circumvent the limitations imposed by Heisenberg's uncertainty principle when performing repeated measurements of quantum states. Recent progress in quantum optics has enabled the experimental realization of quantum non-demolition measurements of the photon flux of a light beam. This achievement bears on fundamental issues about the ultimate sensitivity of measurements, and may open the way for applications such as noise-free information tapping in optical telecommunications.

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Figure 1: Simple examples of quantum measurements.
Figure 2: Measurement scheme via cross-Kerr effect.
Figure 3: The different properties used to characterize a measurement device.
Figure 4: Measurement scheme using pulsed optical parametric amplifier with atype-II phase-matched χ(2) crystal.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge decisive contributions from K. Bencheikh and J.-F. Roch in our experiments. This work was supported in part by the European ESPRIT program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique, CNRS (URA 14), BP 147, Orsay Cedex, F-91403, France

    Philippe Grangier & Jean-Philippe Poizat

  2. France Telecom/CNET/DTD/Laboratoire de Bagneux, CNRS (URA 250), BP 107, Bagneux Cedex, F-92225, France

    Juan Ariel Levenson

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  1. Philippe Grangier
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Correspondence to Philippe Grangier.

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Grangier, P., Levenson, J. & Poizat, JP. Quantum non-demolition measurements in optics. Nature 396, 537–542 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/25059

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