LAUSR

One of the most fundamental quantum states of light is the squeezed vacuum, in which noise in one of the quadratures is less than the standard quantum noise limit. In nanophotonics, it remains challenging to generate, manipulate, and measure such a quantum state with the performance required for a wide range of scalable quantum information systems. Here, we report the development of a lithium niobate–based nanophotonic platform to demonstrate the generation and all-optical measurement of squeezed states on the same chip. The generated squeezed states span more than 25 terahertz of bandwidth supporting just a few optical cycles. The measured 4.9 decibels of squeezing surpass the requirements for a wide range of quantum information systems, demonstrating a practical path toward scalable ultrafast quantum nanophotonics. Description Putting a squeeze on nanophotonics Squeezed quantum states of light are states in which the noise in one of the quadratures is less than the standard quantum noise limit. The generation and manipulation of such states lies at the core of quantum-enhanced technologies, but such systems tend to require auxiliary bulk optical components for their preparation. Nehra et al. demonstrate an integrated nanophotonics platform based on lithium niobate to generate and measure squeezed states on the same optical chip. Such generation and measurement of few-optical-cycle squeezed states in a nanophotonics setting should be useful for the development of scalable quantum information systems. —ISO A lithium niobate–based platform can generate and measure squeezed states of light on a chip.