Weak-force sensing with squeezed optomechanics

We investigate quantum-squeezing-enhanced weak-force sensing via a nonlinear optomechanical resonator containing a movable mechanical mirror and an optical parametric amplifier(OPA). Herein, we determined that tuning the OPA parameters can considerably suppress quantum noise and substantially enhance force sensitivity, enabling the device to extensively surpass the standard quantum limit. This indicates that under realistic experimental conditions, we can achieve ultrahigh-precision quantum force sensing by harnessing nonlinear optomechanical devices.     

Cooling by heating: very hot thermal light can significantly cool quantum systems

We introduce the idea of actually cooling quantum systems by means of incoherent thermal light, hence giving rise to a counterintuitive mechanism of "cooling by heating." In this effect, the mere incoherent occupation of a quantum mechanical mode serves as a trigger to enhance the coupling between other modes. This notion of effectively rendering states more coherent by driving with incoherent thermal quantum noise is applied here to the optomechanical setting, where this effect occurs most naturally. We discuss two ways of describing this situation, one of them making use of stochastic sampling of gaussian quantum states with respect to stationary classical stochastic processes. The potential of experimentally demonstrating this counterintuitive effect in optomechanical systems with present technology is sketched.     

Improving optomechanical gyroscopes by coherent quantum noise cancellation processing

Coherent quantum noise cancellation(CQNC) method is used to beat standard quantum limit(SQL) for improving the performance of quantum optomechanical gyroscopes. The protocol for realizing CQNC is achieved by constructing an effective negative mass mechanical oscillator, which is simulated by an ancillary cavity. This oscillator shows an antiresponse relative to that of a real mechanical oscillator. Thus, the optomechanical back-action noise is counteracted or restrained, and we could increase our signal by increasing the coupling strength without increasing the noise.     

Quantum theory of cavity-assisted sideband cooling of mechanical motion

We present a quantum-mechanical theory of the cooling of a cantilever coupled via radiation pressure to an illuminated optical cavity. Applying the quantum noise approach to the fluctuations of the radiation pressure force, we derive the optomechanical cooling rate and the minimum achievable phonon number. We find that reaching the quantum limit of arbitrarily small phonon numbers requires going into the good-cavity (resolved phonon sideband) regime where the cavity linewidth is much smaller than the mechanical frequency and the corresponding cavity detuning. This is in contrast to the common assumption that the mechanical frequency and the cavity detuning should be comparable to the cavity damping.     

Review of cavity optomechanical cooling

Quantum manipulation of macroscopic mechanical systems is of great interest in both fundamental physics and ap- plications ranging from high-precision metrology to quantum information processing. For these purposes, a crucial step is to cool the mechanical system to its quantum ground state. In this review, we focus on the cavity optomechanical cooling, which exploits the cavity enhanced interaction between optical field and mechanical motion to reduce the thermal noise. Recent remarkable theoretical and experimental efforts in this field have taken a major step forward in preparing the mo- tional quantum ground state of mesoscopic mechanical systems. This review first describes the quantum theory of cavity optomechanical cooling, including quantum noise approach and covariance approach; then, the up-to-date experimental progresses are introduced. Finally, new cooling approaches are discussed along the directions of cooling in the strong coupling regime and cooling beyond the resolved sideband limit.     

Optomechanical sensing with on-chip microcavities

The coupling between optical and mechanical degrees of freedom has been of broad interest for a long time. However, it is only until recently, with the rapid development of optical mierocavity research, that we are able to manipulate and utilize this coupling process. When a high Q microeavity couples to a mechanical resonator, they can consolidate into an optomeehanieal system. Benefitting from the unique characteristics offered by optomeehanical coupling, this hybrid system has become a promising platform for ultrasensitive sensors to detect displacement, mass, force and acceleration. In this review, we introduce the basic physical concepts of cavity optomechanies, and describe some of the most typical experimental cavity optomechanical systems for sensing applications. Finally, we discuss the noise arising from various sources and show the potentiality of optomechanical sensing towards quantum-noise-limited detection.     

腔光力学系统中的量子测量

腔光力学系统近年来迅猛发展, 在精密测量、量子传感等方面已展现出重要的应用价值. 特别是与微纳技术和冷原子技术结合后, 这一系统正发展成为研究量子测量与量子操控的理想平台. 本文首先综述腔光力学在量子测量, 尤其是量子测量基础理论研究方面的进展; 然后分析腔光力学系统中的量子测量原理; 最后介绍我们近来在这方面的研究进展, 并通过我们设计的一系列新颖的基于腔光力学系统的量子测量方案来具体展示该系统在量子测量、量子操控等方面的潜在应用.     

Modulation‐Based Atom‐Mirror Entanglement and Mechanical Squeezing in an Unresolved‐Sideband Optomechanical System

A hybrid optomechanical system which is composed of an atomic ensemble and a standard optomechanical cavity driven by a periodically modulated external laser field is investigated. Based on the simple periodic modulation forms of the driving amplitude and effective optomechanical coupling, respectively, the atom‐mirror entanglement is discussed in detail. It is found that the maximum of the entanglement in the unresolved‐sideband regime can be further enhanced compared with the non‐modulation regime. On the other hand, we find that the introduction of the atomic ensemble permits the mechanical squeezing induced by the periodic amplitude modulation can be successfully generated even in the unresolved‐sideband regime. Due to the self‐cooling mechanism constructed by the atomic ensemble, the mechanical squeezing scheme no longer requires the extra precooling technologies.     

Precision Mass Measurement with Optomechanically Induced Transparency in an Optomechanical System

We present a scheme for all-optical precision mass sensing with squeezed field in an optomechanical system in terms of optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT). We demonstrate that the splitting of the two peaks of the OMIT, which is almost inverse proportion to square root of the accreted mass landing on nanomechanical resonator (NAMR). We also show that the mass measurement scheme for the squeezed fields can be robust against temperature and cavity decay in somehow. Specifically, the precision measurement is from the noise spectrum, for these reasons, our scheme may provide a new paradigm for precision measurement based on the noise in the optomechanical system.     

双光腔耦合下机械振子的基态冷却

机械振子的基态冷却是腔量子光力学中的基本问题之一.所谓的基态冷却就是让机械振子的稳态声子数小于1.本文通过光压涨落谱和稳态声子数研究双光腔光力系统(标准单光腔光力系统中引入第二个光腔,并与第一个光腔直接耦合)的基态冷却.首先得到系统的有效哈密顿量,然后给出朗之万方程和速率方程,最后分别给出空腔和原子腔的光压涨落谱、冷却率和稳态声子数.通过光压涨落谱、冷却率和稳态声子数表达式,重点讨论空腔时机械振子的基态冷却,发现当满足最佳参数条件(机械振子的冷却跃迁速率对应光压涨落谱的最大值,而加热跃迁速率对应光压涨落谱的最小值)时,机械振子可以被冷却到稳态声子数足够少.此外分析:当辅助腔内注入原子系综时,若参数选择恰当可能更利于基态冷却.     

腔光力系统制备微波非经典态研究进展

腔光力系统作为一种新型的混合量子系统,因其超强耦合度、低温超导条件下极低的噪声、较长的相干时间等优势而成为被广受关注的量子实验平台.本文简要介绍腔光力学及腔光力系统基本原理,对常见腔光力系统进行分类,详细介绍利用广义腔光力系统进行微波非经典量子态制备的相关进展,对其性能优势和待解决问题进行分析,最后总结相关应用场景并对未来的潜在应用领域进行了展望.     

Nonreciprocal ground-state cooling of mechanical resonator in a spinning optomechanical system

We theoretically present a scheme for nonreciprocal ground-state cooling in a double-cavity spinning optomechanical system which is consisted of an optomechanical resonator and a spinning optical harmonic resonator with directional driving. The optical Sagnac effect generated by the whispering-gallery cavity (WGC) rotation creates frequency difference between the WGC mode, we found that the mechanical resonator (MR) can be cooled to the ground state when the propagation direction of driving light is opposite to the spin direction of the WGC, but not from the other side, vice versa, so that the nonreciprocal cooling is achieved. By appropriately selecting the system parameters, the heating process can be completely suppressed due to the quantum interference effect. The proposed approach provides a platform for quantum manipulation of macroscopic mechanical devices beyond the resolved sideband limit.     

Pulsed laser cooling for cavity optomechanical resonators

A pulsed cooling scheme for optomechanical systems is presented that is capable of cooling at much faster rates, shorter overall cooling times, and for a wider set of experimental scenarios than is possible by conventional methods. The proposed scheme can be implemented for both strongly and weakly coupled optomechanical systems in both weakly and highly dissipative cavities. We study analytically its underlying working mechanism, which is based on interferometric control of optomechanical interactions, and we demonstrate its efficiency with pulse sequences that are obtained by using methods from optimal control. The short time in which our scheme approaches the optomechanical ground state allows for a significant relaxation of current experimental constraints. Finally, the framework presented here can be used to create a rich variety of optomechanical interactions and hence offers a novel, readily available toolbox for fast optomechanical quantum control.     

Normal mode splitting and ground state cooling in a Fabry-Perot optical cavity and transmission line resonator

Optomechanical dynamics in two systems which are a transmission line resonator and Fabrya-Perot optical cavity via radiation-pressure are investigated by linearized quantum Langevin equation. We work in the resolved sideband regime where the oscillator resonance frequency exceeds the cavity linewidth. Normal mode splittings of the mechanical resonator as a pure result of the coupling interaction in the two optomechanical systems is studied, and we make a comparison of normal mode splitting of mechanical resonator between the two systems. In the optical cavity, the normal mode splitting of the movable mirror approaches the latest experiment very well. In addition, an approximation scheme is introduced to demonstrate the ground state cooling, and we make a comparison of cooling between the two systems dominated by two key factors, which are the initial bath temperature and the mechanical quality factor. Since both the normal mode splitting and cooling require working in the resolved sideband regime, whether the normal mode splitting influences the cooling of the mirror is considered. Considering the size of the mechanical resonator and precooling the system, the mechanical resonator in the transmission line resonator system is easier to achieve the ground state cooling than in optical cavity.     

Cavity optomechanics: Manipulating photons and phonons towards the single-photon strong coupling

Cavity optomechanical systems provide powerful platforms to manipulate photons and phonons, open potential applications for modern optical communications and precise measurements. With the refrigeration and ground-state cooling technologies, studies of cavity optomechanics are making significant progress towards the quantum regime including nonclassical state preparation, quantum state tomography, quantum information processing, and future quantum internet. With further research, it is found that abundant physical phenomena and important applications in both classical and quantum regimes appeal as they have a strong optomechanical nonlinearity, which essentially depends on the single-photon optomechanical coupling strength. Thus, engineering the optomechanical interactions and improving the single-photon optomechanical coupling strength become very important subjects. In this article, we first review several mechanisms,theoretically proposed for enhancing optomechanical coupling. Then, we review the experimental progresses on enhancing optomechanical coupling by optimizing its structure and fabrication process. Finally, we review how to use novel structures and materials to enhance the optomechanical coupling strength. The manipulations of the photons and phonons at the level of strong optomechanical coupling are also summarized.     

Suppressing laser phase noise in an optomechanical system

We propose a scheme to suppress the laser phase noise without increasing the optomechanical single-photon coupling strength.In the scheme,the parametric amplification terms,created by Kerr and Duffing nonlinearities,can restrain laser phase noise and strengthen the effective optomechanical coupling,respectively.Interestingly,decreasing laser phase noise leads to increasing thermal noise,which is inhibited by bringing in a broadband-squeezed vacuum environment.To reflect the superiority of the scheme,we simulate quantum memory and stationary optomechanical entanglement as examples,and the corresponding numerical results demonstrate that the laser phase noise is extremely suppressed.Our method can pave the way for studying other quantum phenomena.     

Laser cooling and optical detection of excitations in a LC electrical circuit

We explore a method for laser cooling and optical detection of excitations in a room temperature LC electrical circuit. Our approach uses a nanomechanical oscillator as a transducer between optical and electronic excitations. An experimentally feasible system with the oscillator capacitively coupled to the LC and at the same time interacting with light via an optomechanical force is shown to provide strong electromechanical coupling. Conditions for improved sensitivity and quantum limited readout of electrical signals with such an "optical loud speaker" are outlined.     

Bistability in a Hybrid Optomechanical System under the Effect of a Nonlinear Medium

We investigate a hybrid optomechanical system consisting of two coupled cavities, one of them is composed of two-end fixed mirrors(called the traditional cavity), and the other has a one-end oscillating mirror(named as the optomechanical eavity). A Kerr medium is inside the traditional cavity to enhance the nonlinearity due to the fact that it can cause observing of bistable behavior in intracavity intensity for the optomechanical cavity.The Hamiltonian of the system is written in a rotating frame and its dynamics is described by quantum Langevin equations of motion. Our proposed s.ystem exhibits unconventional plots for the mean photon number of the optomechanical cavity which are not observed in previous works. The present results show a deep effect of the Kerr medium on optical bistability of intracavity intensity for the optomechanical cavity. Also, coupling strength of the cavities can effectively change the stability of the system.     

Suppression of Stokes heating processes and improved optomechanical cooling with frequency modulation

Ground-state cooling of mesoscopic mechanical objects is still a major challenge in the unresolved-sideband regime. We present a frequency modulation (FM) scheme to achieve cooling of the mechanical resonator to its ground-state in a double-cavity optomechanical system containing a mechanical resonator. The mean phonon number is determined by numerically solving a set of differential equations derived from the quantum master equations. Due to efficient suppression of Stokes heating processes in the presence of FM, the ground-state cooling, indicated by numerical calculations, is significantly achievable, regardless of whether in the resolved-sideband regime or the unresolved-sideband regime. Furthermore, by choosing parameters reasonably, the improvement of the quantum cooling limit is found to be capable of being positively correlated with the modulation frequency. This method provides new insight into quantum manipulation and creates more possibilities for applications of quantum devices.     

Ground-state cooling based on a three-cavity optomechanical system in the unresolved-sideband regime

In the unresolved sideband regime,we propose a scheme for cooling mechanical resonator close to its ground state in a three-cavity optomechanical system,where the auxiliary cavities are indirectly connected with the mechanical resonator through standard optomechanical subsystem.The standard optomechanical subsystem is driven by a strong pump laser field.With the help of the auxiliary cavities,the heating process is suppressed and the cooling process of the mechanical resonator is enhanced.More importantly,the average phonon number is much less than 1 in a larger range.This means that the mechanical resonator can be cooled down to its ground state.All these interesting features will significantly promote the physical realization of quantum effects in multi-cavity optomechanical systems.