title: Laser power noise detection at the quantum-noise limit of 32 A photocurrent.
abstract: The power noise of a cw Nd:YAG laser system was measured at radio frequencies using the optical ac coupling technique. An additional mode cleaner in the setup allowed a high optical ac coupling amplification of 62.3. For the first time, to our knowledge, a sensitivity of 1.1×10⁻¹⁰ Hz(-1/2) relative power noise was achieved corresponding to an equivalent detected photocurrent of 32 A. High precision optics experiments can utilize this scheme to improve the sensitivity of their photodetectors.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein-Institut), Hannover, Germany. patrick.kwee@aei.mpg.de
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: Benno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willke
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Danzmann