Abstract

A laser is a nonequilibrium open system, in which the macroscopic quantum coherence is established by the balance between an ordering force of Systems and fluctuating forces from external reservoirs A constant current driven semiconductor laser produces squeezed states of light with reduced photon number noise to below the standard quantum limit, while an ordinary laser produces coherent states of light with shot-noise-limited photon number fluctuations. We review the theoretical and experimental aspects of this nonclassical light generation. Some future possibilities, such as squeezed vacuum state generation and regulated single electron to single photon conversion are also discussed.

© 1992 Optical Society of America