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Room-temperature quantum optomechanics using an ultralow noise cavity
Guanhao Huang1,2, Alberto Beccari1,2, Nils J Engelsen3,4,5
1Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nature
|February 15, 2024
Summary
Researchers achieved quantum control of mechanical motion in solid-state systems at room temperature. They demonstrated squeezing of light below vacuum fluctuations, a key step for quantum sensing and computing.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Optomechanics
- Solid-state systems
Background:
- Quantum backaction of light on mechanical motion is difficult to observe in solid-state resonators due to noise and instabilities.
- Previous experiments required optical forces to control oscillator stiffness, limiting applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome challenges hindering quantum effects in solid-state mechanical resonators at room temperature.
- To demonstrate quantum control of macroscopic oscillators using light-matter interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a phononic-engineered membrane-in-the-middle system with phononic-crystal-patterned cavity mirrors.
- Employed a high-quality factor (180 million) membrane resonator with soft-clamping techniques.
- Reduced optical cavity frequency noise by over 700-fold.
Main Results:
- Achieved operation within 2.5 of the Heisenberg limit for displacement sensing.
- Demonstrated 1.09(1) dB squeezing of a probe laser below vacuum fluctuations.
- Prepared conditional displaced thermal states with 0.97(2) phonon occupation using a Kalman filter.
Conclusions:
- Extended quantum control of solid-state macroscopic oscillators to room temperature.
- The developed system offers a platform for advanced quantum sensing and information processing.
