67 research outputs found
Mechanical Entanglement via Detuned Parametric Amplification
We propose two schemes to generate entanglement between a pair of mechanical
oscillators using parametric amplification. In contrast to existing parametric
drive-based protocols, both schemes operate in the steady-state. Using a
detuned parametric drive to maintain equilibrium and to couple orthogonal
quadratures, our approach can be viewed as a two-mode extension of previous
proposals for parametric squeezing. We find that robust steady-state
entanglement is possible for matched oscillators with well-controlled coupling.
In addition, one of the proposed schemes is robust to differences in the
damping rates of the two oscillators.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure
Detuned Mechanical Parametric Amplification as a Quantum Non-Demolition Measurement
Recently it has been demonstrated that the combination of weak-continuous
position detection with detuned parametric driving can lead to significant
steady-state mechanical squeezing, far beyond the 3 dB limit normally
associated with parametric driving. In this work, we show the close connection
between this detuned scheme and quantum non-demolition (QND) measurement of a
single mechanical quadrature. In particular, we show that applying an
experimentally realistic detuned parametric drive to a cavity optomechanical
system allows one to effectively realize a QND measurement despite being in the
bad-cavity limit. In the limit of strong squeezing, we show that this scheme
offers significant advantages over standard backaction evasion, not only by
allowing operation in the weak measurement and low efficiency regimes, but also
in terms of the purity of the mechanical state.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure
Cavity optoelectromechanical regenerative amplification
Cavity optoelectromechanical regenerative amplification is demonstrated. An
optical cavity enhances mechanical transduction, allowing sensitive measurement
even for heavy oscillators. A 27.3 MHz mechanical mode of a microtoroid was
linewidth narrowed to 6.6\pm1.4 mHz, 30 times smaller than previously achieved
with radiation pressure driving in such a system. These results may have
applications in areas such as ultrasensitive optomechanical mass spectroscopy
From real-time adaptation to social learning in robot ecosystems
While evolutionary robotics can create novel morphologies and controllers that are well-adapted to their environments, learning is still the most efficient way to adapt to changes that occur on shorter time scales. Learning proposals for evolving robots to date have focused on new individuals either learning a controller from scratch, or building on the experience of direct ancestors and/or robots with similar configurations. Here we propose and demonstrate a novel means for social learning of gait patterns, based on sensorimotor synchronization. Using movement patterns of other robots as input can drive nonlinear decentralized controllers such as CPGs into new limit cycles, hence encouraging diversity of movement patterns. Stable autonomous controllers can then be locked in, which we demonstrate using a quasi-Hebbian feedback scheme. We propose that in an ecosystem of robots evolving in a heterogeneous environment, such a scheme may allow for the emergence of generalist task-solvers from a population of specialists
Enhanced Zeeman splitting in Ga0.25In0.75As quantum point contacts
The strength of the Zeeman splitting induced by an applied magnetic field is
an important factor for the realization of spin-resolved transport in
mesoscopic devices. We measure the Zeeman splitting for a quantum point contact
etched into a Ga0.25In0.75As quantum well, with the field oriented parallel to
the transport direction. We observe an enhancement of the Lande g-factor from
|g*|=3.8 +/- 0.2 for the third subband to |g*|=5.8 +/- 0.6 for the first
subband, six times larger than in GaAs. We report subband spacings in excess of
10 meV, which facilitates quantum transport at higher temperatures.Comment: [Version 2] Revtex4, 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in
Applied Physics Letter
Mechanical squeezing via parametric amplification and weak measurement
Nonlinear forces allow motion of a mechanical oscillator to be squeezed below the zero-point motion. Of existing methods, mechanical parametric amplification is relatively accessible, but previously thought to be limited to 3 dB of squeezing in the steady state. We consider the effect of applying continuous weak measurement and feedback to this system. If the parametric drive is optimally detuned from resonance, correlations between the quadratures of motion allow unlimited steady-state squeezing. Compared to backaction evasion, we demonstrate that the measurement strength, temperature and efficiency requirements for quantum squeezing are significantly relaxed
Tomography of an optomechanical oscillator via parametrically amplified position measurement
We propose a protocol for quantum state tomography of nonclassical states in
optomechanical systems. Using a parametric drive, the procedure overcomes the
challenges of weak optomechanical coupling, poor detection efficiency, and
thermal noise to enable high efficiency homodyne measurement. Our analysis is
based on the analytic description of the generalized measurement that is
performed when optomechanical position measurement competes with thermal noise
and a parametric drive. The proposed experimental procedure is numerically
simulated in realistic parameter regimes, which allows us to show that
tomographic reconstruction of otherwise unverifiable nonclassical states is
made possible.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures, comments welcome. Published versio
Strong thermomechanical squeezing via weak measurement
We experimentally surpass the 3 dB limit to steady-state parametric squeezing of a mechanical oscillator. The localization of an atomic force microscope cantilever, achieved by optimal estimation, is enhanced by up to 6.2 dB in one position quadrature when a detuned parametric drive is used. This squeezing is, in principle, limited only by the oscillator Q factor. Used on low temperature, high frequency oscillators, this technique provides a pathway to achieve robust quantum squeezing below the zero-point motion. Broadly, our results demonstrate that control systems engineering can overcome well established limits in applications of nonlinear processes. Conversely, by localizing the mechanical position to better than the measurement precision of our apparatus, they demonstrate the usefulness of mechanical nonlinearities in control applications
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