Noncritically Squeezed Light via Spontaneous Rotational Symmetry Breaking

We predict squeezed light generation through the spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking occurring in a degenerate optical parametric oscillator (DOPO) pumped above threshold. We show, within the linearized theory, that a DOPO with spherical mirrors, in which the signal and idler fields correspond to first-order Laguerre-Gauss modes, produces a perfectly squeezed vacuum with the shape of a Hermite-Gauss mode. This occurs at any pumping level above threshold; hence, the phenomenon is noncritical. Imperfections of the rotational symmetry, due, e.g., to cavity anisotropy, are shown to have a small impact.