1,016 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
Prospects for cooling nanomechanical motion by coupling to a superconducting microwave resonator
Recent theoretical work has shown that radiation pressure effects can in
principle cool a mechanical degree of freedom to its ground state. In this
paper, we apply this theory to our realization of an opto-mechanical system in
which the motion of mechanical oscillator modulates the resonance frequency of
a superconducting microwave circuit. We present experimental data demonstrating
the large mechanical quality factors possible with metallic, nanomechanical
beams at 20 mK. Further measurements also show damping and cooling effects on
the mechanical oscillator due to the microwave radiation field. These data
motivate the prospects for employing this dynamical backaction technique to
cool a mechanical mode entirely to its quantum ground state.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
State Transfer Between a Mechanical Oscillator and Microwave Fields in the Quantum Regime
Recently, macroscopic mechanical oscillators have been coaxed into a regime
of quantum behavior, by direct refrigeration [1] or a combination of
refrigeration and laser-like cooling [2, 3]. This exciting result has
encouraged notions that mechanical oscillators may perform useful functions in
the processing of quantum information with superconducting circuits [1, 4-7],
either by serving as a quantum memory for the ephemeral state of a microwave
field or by providing a quantum interface between otherwise incompatible
systems [8, 9]. As yet, the transfer of an itinerant state or propagating mode
of a microwave field to and from a mechanical oscillator has not been
demonstrated owing to the inability to agilely turn on and off the interaction
between microwave electricity and mechanical motion. Here we demonstrate that
the state of an itinerant microwave field can be coherently transferred into,
stored in, and retrieved from a mechanical oscillator with amplitudes at the
single quanta level. Crucially, the time to capture and to retrieve the
microwave state is shorter than the quantum state lifetime of the mechanical
oscillator. In this quantum regime, the mechanical oscillator can both store
and transduce quantum information
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