6 research outputs found
Pulsed quantum optomechanics
Studying mechanical resonators via radiation pressure offers a rich avenue
for the exploration of quantum mechanical behavior in a macroscopic regime.
However, quantum state preparation and especially quantum state reconstruction
of mechanical oscillators remains a significant challenge. Here we propose a
scheme to realize quantum state tomography, squeezing and state purification of
a mechanical resonator using short optical pulses. The scheme presented allows
observation of mechanical quantum features despite preparation from a thermal
state and is shown to be experimentally feasible using optical microcavities.
Our framework thus provides a promising means to explore the quantum nature of
massive mechanical oscillators and can be applied to other systems such as
trapped ions.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Probing Planck-scale physics with quantum optics
One of the main challenges in physics today is to merge quantum theory and
the theory of general relativity into a unified framework. Various approaches
towards developing such a theory of quantum gravity are pursued, but the lack
of experimental evidence of quantum gravitational effects thus far is a major
hindrance. Yet, the quantization of space-time itself can have experimental
implications: the existence of a minimal length scale is widely expected to
result in a modification of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation. Here we
introduce a scheme that allows an experimental test of this conjecture by
probing directly the canonical commutation relation of the center of mass mode
of a massive mechanical oscillator with a mass close to the Planck mass. Our
protocol utilizes quantum optical control and readout of the mechanical system
to probe possible deviations from the quantum commutation relation even at the
Planck scale. We show that the scheme is within reach of current technology. It
thus opens a feasible route for tabletop experiments to test possible quantum
gravitational phenomena.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 2 table