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Ultracold Mechanical Quantum Sensor for Tests of New Physics
Andraž Omahen1, Simon Storz1, Marius Bild1
1ETH Zürich, ETH Zürich, Department of Physics, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland and Quantum Center, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|May 22, 2026
Summary
Researchers initialized mechanical modes to their quantum ground state with unprecedented precision using a high-overtone bulk acoustic wave resonator. This breakthrough advances quantum information processing and fundamental physics research.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Acoustic wave devices
- Quantum information science
Background:
- Initializing mechanical modes to the quantum ground state is vital for quantum information and sensing.
- Impurities in initial states reduce quantum algorithm fidelity and increase detector noise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the excited-state populations of GHz-frequency mechanical modes.
- To establish high-overtone bulk acoustic wave resonators as a resource for quantum state initialization and fundamental physics studies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a high-overtone bulk acoustic wave resonator.
- Measured excited-state populations of GHz-frequency mechanical modes.
Main Results:
- Achieved first excited-state population as low as P_{p}=(1.2±5.5)×10^{-5}.
- Demonstrated an effective temperature of 25.2 mK.
- Results favorably compare with superconducting circuits.
Conclusions:
- High-overtone bulk acoustic wave resonators are suitable for quantum state initialization.
- The measured populations constrain amplitudes of high-frequency gravitational waves and ultralight dark matter kinetic mixing.
- Enables studies of nonlinear Schrödinger equation modifications.
