The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Purpose

The Project applies quantum sensing to photonic measurements of a ring resonator containing a phase-shifted fibre Bragg grating. Quantum-based interrogation promises to improve the sensitivity of the device by an order of magnitude. For measurements of strain, this will result in a sensitivity at the level of pico-strain. In order to increase the measurement sensitivity beyond the quantum limit (SQL), the interferometer will be probed with a superposition of coherent light and squeezed light (squeezed state of light). A very sensitive balanced homodyne detection will be used to probe the interferometer. A 2 -5 dB decrease in noise level would allow detection of environment perturbation that otherwise would have been lost in the noise. Partnering with FIBOS Inc., who have developed PS-FBG based sensing platforms, the Project will develop interferometric measurement techniques that will be very sensitive to strain, vibration and/or magnetic fields.