Abstract

The efficient generation of squeezed light requires materials with large nonlinear coefficients and small losses. We present here experimental measurements of the losses and nonlinear coefficients of two semiconductors in the low-loss spectral region below the band gap, where we might expect a favourable ratio of non-linearity to loss.¹ The wavelength was 880 nm, and the materials were GaAs/ Al_0.3Ga_0.7As multiple quantum well waveguides, and bulk ZnSe. In both materials we find that the prospects for very good squeezing are limited by two photon absorption. Despite this, we estimate that up to 5 dB pulsed squeezing could be possible.

© 1994 IEEE