Ground-state cooling of mechanical resonators by quantum reservoir engineering

AbstractGround-state cooling of multiple mechanical resonators becomes vital to employ them in various applications ranging from ultra-precise sensing to quantum information processing. Here we propose a scheme for simultaneous cooling of multiple degenerate or near-degenerate mechanical resonators to their quantum ground-state, which is otherwise a challenging goal to achieve. As opposed to standard laser cooling schemes where coherence renders the motion of a resonator to its ground-state, we consider an incoherent thermal source to achieve the same aim. The underlying physical mechanism of cooling is explained by investigating a direct connection between the laser sideband cooling and “cooling by heating”. Our advantageous scheme of cooling enabled by quantum reservoir engineering can be realized in various setups, employing parametric coupling of a cooling agent with the target systems. We also discuss using non-thermal baths to simulate ultra-high temperature thermal baths for cooling.

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Ground-state cooling of mechanical resonators by hot thermal light

10.21203/rs.3.rs-111621/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Naseem ◽

Özgür Müstecaplıoğlu

Keyword(s):

Laser Cooling ◽

Ground State ◽

Cavity Mode ◽

Physical Mechanism ◽

Mechanical Resonators ◽

Mechanical Resonator ◽

Thermal Light ◽

Optomechanical Coupling ◽

Quantum Ground State ◽

Standard Laser

Abstract We propose a scheme to cool down a mechanical resonator to its quantum ground-state, which is interacting with a cavity mode via the optomechanical coupling. As opposed to standard laser cooling schemes where coherence renders the state of the resonator to its ground-state, here we use incoherent thermal light to achieve the same aim. We show that simultaneous cooling of two degenerate or near-degenerate mechanical resonators is possible in our scheme, which is otherwise a challenging goal to achieve in optomechanics. The generalization of this method to the simultaneous cooling of multiple resonators is straightforward. The underlying physical mechanism of cooling is explained by revealing a direct connection between the laser sideband cooling and “cooling by heating” in a standard optomechanical setting.

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Early History and Fundamentals of Optomechanics

Quantum Optomechanics and Nanomechanics ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198828143.003.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-40

Author(s):

Antoine Heidmann ◽

Pierre-Francois Cohadon

Keyword(s):

Quantum Optics ◽

Laser Cooling ◽

Ground State ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Early History ◽

Optical Measurements ◽

Mechanical Resonators ◽

History Of ◽

Control Light ◽

Quantum Ground State

In its simplest form, optomechanics amounts to two complementary coupling effects: mechanical motion changes the path followed by light, but light (through radiation pressure) can drive the mechanical resonator into motion as well. Optomechanics allows one to control resonator motion by laser cooling down to the quantum ground state, or to control light by using back-action in optical measurements and in quantum optics. Its main applications are optomechanical sensors to detect tiny mechanical motions and weak forces, cold damping and laser cooling, and quantum optics. The objectives of this chapter are to provide a brief account of the history of the field, together with its fundamentals. We will in particular review both classical and quantum aspects of optomechanics, together with its applications to high-sensitivity measurements and to control or cool mechanical resonators down to their ground state, with possible applications for tests of quantum theory or for quantum information.

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