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Quantum signatures of the optomechanical instability
Jiang Qian1, A A Clerk, K Hammerer
1Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics, Center for NanoScience and Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität at München, Theresienstrasse 37, 80333 Munich, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|February 2, 2013
Summary
Strongly negative Wigner density, a nonclassical state, emerges in optomechanical systems with strong light-matter coupling. This robust feature, observable near self-induced oscillations, has unique photon correlations.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Optomechanics
- Quantum Information Science
Background:
- Optomechanical systems couple light and mechanical motion, with recent advances significantly increasing coupling strengths.
- Understanding the quantum states of mechanical oscillators in these systems is crucial for quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emergence of nonclassical states in the steady state of a standard optomechanical system under continuous laser illumination.
- To identify robust quantum signatures and their dependence on optomechanical coupling strength, optical decay rate, and mechanical frequency.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of a standard optomechanical setup under continuous laser illumination.
- Investigation of the system's steady state, focusing on Wigner density and photon-photon correlation functions.
- Utilizing optical homodyne tomography for mapping the Wigner density.
Main Results:
- A nonclassical, strongly negative Wigner density develops when optomechanical coupling is comparable to or exceeds optical decay rate and mechanical frequency.
- This negative Wigner density is robust and observable near the onset of self-induced oscillations.
- Distinct oscillations in the photon-photon correlation function g(2)(t) are observed, decaying on timescales longer than both optical and mechanical decay times.
Conclusions:
- Strong optomechanical coupling can drive mechanical oscillators into nonclassical states with unique quantum signatures.
- The observed negative Wigner density and long-lived photon correlations offer potential for quantum state generation and metrology.
- These findings highlight the rich quantum dynamics accessible in advanced optomechanical systems.
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