Subhertz interferometry at the quantum noise limit.

ABSTRACT

Quantum noise limited interferometry for subhertz phase measurement is of essence in precision metrology applications, such as gravitational wave detection. However, suppression of subhertz classical noises below the shot-noise level is very challenging in practice. Two-frequency interferometry has been previously proposed to avoid low-frequency noises and may be useful for squeezing-enhanced high-precision phase measurement. Here we experimentally demonstrate a subhertz interferometer at the standard quantum noise (shot-noise) limit, by use of dual-frequency coherent probe light at the input and phase-sensitive heterodyne detection to measure the output interfered light. When the interferometer is locked at a dark fringe, the noise floor of the phase variance in the interferometer reaches the shot-noise level down to Fourier frequencies below 1 Hz. This work should pave a way for a realization of subhertz interferometry beyond the shot-noise limit.