Fiber-Optical Sources of Quantum Squeezed Light

Quantum squeezed states of light characterized by a reduced quantum uncertainty with respect to one of the quadrature variables smaller than the uncertainty of the vacuum state (the standard quantum limit) play an important role in the current fundamental and applied research. The main information concerning the proprieties and manifestations of the squeezed states are presented. A concise review of the methods for obtaining and detecting the quantum squeezed light is performed; at that, a special attention is payed to fiber-optical schemas. The Kerr mechanism of squeezed state generation that is realized in various variants of fiber-optic systems is considered in detail. An experimental scheme of generation of polarization-squeezed states based on a nonlinear polarization-maintaining fiber is presented. Different factors that limit squeezing are considered.