Optimal phase sensitivity by quantum squeezing based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer

Abstract A novel scheme for the enhancement of phase sensitivity based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and intensity detection is proposed. With the input of bright entangled twin beams from four wave mixing (FWM), the phase sensitivity can beat shot noise limit (SNL) and approach Heisenberg limit. This scheme is special due to that only one of bright entangled twin beams enters into the MZI and the other one is employed for measurement. In addition, by altering the parametric strength of FWM and the implementation of maximum quantum squeezing, the optimal phase sensitivity can reach sub-SNL. Optical intensity depletion of photon detectors and internal intensity depletion of the MZI are also discussed. The scheme displays that by employing external resources, while one input of the MZI is an vacuum beam, the phase sensitivity still can beat SNL.