All Physics Faculty Publications

Gravitationally Squeezed Light

Document Type

Essay

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Gravitationally Squeezed Light

Publication Date

1989

Abstract

Normally, pure states of coherent light have equal uncertainties for pairs of conjugate variables. In recent years, however, it has become possible to produce and detect light in which fluctuations of one of the quadrature components are suppressed below the corresponding flutuations of a coherent state. Such radiation is said to be in a squeezed state. We explore the possibility that a strong gravitational field can produce a squeezed state of light. Such squeezing does in fact occur, and we derive an expression for the resulting uncertainties in a high frequency or long time limit. These results comprise a new, testable prediction of general relativity.

Comments

written for the 1989 General Relativity and Gravitation Awards for Essays on Gravitation. Received Honorable Mention

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS