239 research outputs found
Quantum nondemolition measurement of a nonclassical state of a massive object
While quantum mechanics exquisitely describes the behavior of microscopic
systems, one ongoing challenge is to explore its applicability to systems of
larger size and mass. Unfortunately, quantum states of increasingly macroscopic
objects are more easily corrupted by unintentional measurements from the
classical environment. Additionally, even the intentional measurements from the
observer can further perturb the system. In optomechanics, coherent light
fields serve as the intermediary between the fragile mechanical states and our
inherently classical world by exerting radiation pressure forces and extracting
mechanical information. Here we engineer a microwave cavity optomechanical
system to stabilize a nonclassical steady-state of motion while independently,
continuously, and nondestructively monitoring it. By coupling the motion of an
aluminum membrane to two microwave cavities, we separately prepare and measure
a squeezed state of motion. We demonstrate a quantum nondemolition (QND)
measurement of sub-vacuum mechanical quadrature fluctuations. The techniques
developed here have direct applications in the areas of quantum-enhanced
sensing and quantum information processing, and could be further extended to
more complex quantum states.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
Demonstration of efficient nonreciprocity in a microwave optomechanical circuit
The ability to engineer nonreciprocal interactions is an essential tool in
modern communication technology as well as a powerful resource for building
quantum networks. Aside from large reverse isolation, a nonreciprocal device
suitable for applications must also have high efficiency (low insertion loss)
and low output noise. Recent theoretical and experimental studies have shown
that nonreciprocal behavior can be achieved in optomechanical systems, but
performance in these last two attributes has been limited. Here we demonstrate
an efficient, frequency-converting microwave isolator based on the
optomechanical interactions between electromagnetic fields and a mechanically
compliant vacuum gap capacitor. We achieve simultaneous reverse isolation of
more than 20 dB and insertion loss less than 1.5 dB over a bandwidth of 5 kHz.
We characterize the nonreciprocal noise performance of the device, observing
that the residual thermal noise from the mechanical environments is routed
solely to the input of the isolator. Our measurements show quantitative
agreement with a general coupled-mode theory. Unlike conventional isolators and
circulators, these compact nonreciprocal devices do not require a static
magnetic field, and they allow for dynamic control of the direction of
isolation. With these advantages, similar devices could enable programmable,
high-efficiency connections between disparate nodes of quantum networks, even
efficiently bridging the microwave and optical domains.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
On discretization in time in simulations of particulate flows
We propose a time discretization scheme for a class of ordinary differential
equations arising in simulations of fluid/particle flows. The scheme is
intended to work robustly in the lubrication regime when the distance between
two particles immersed in the fluid or between a particle and the wall tends to
zero. The idea consists in introducing a small threshold for the particle-wall
distance below which the real trajectory of the particle is replaced by an
approximated one where the distance is kept equal to the threshold value. The
error of this approximation is estimated both theoretically and by numerical
experiments. Our time marching scheme can be easily incorporated into a full
simulation method where the velocity of the fluid is obtained by a numerical
solution to Stokes or Navier-Stokes equations. We also provide a derivation of
the asymptotic expansion for the lubrication force (used in our numerical
experiments) acting on a disk immersed in a Newtonian fluid and approaching the
wall. The method of this derivation is new and can be easily adapted to other
cases
- …