Quantum Optomechanics at the Standard Quantum Limit

标准量子极限下的量子光力学

• 批准号: 2110455
• 负责人: Thomas Corbitt
• 金额: $ 48万
• 依托单位: Louisiana State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-08-01 至 2024-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2110455&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Quantum; Optomechanics; Standard; Limit

This award supports research in relativity and relativistic astrophysics, and it addresses the priority areas of NSF's "Windows on the Universe" Big Idea. The direct detection of gravitational waves (GW) was made possible by decades of work developing the physics and experimental expertise needed to construct the interferometers that made the detections. GW detectors are now limited in their sensitivity by quantum noise in the forms of shot noise, associated with counting error in the number of photons detected, and backaction in the form of radiation pressure noise. This project will explore the interplay of these quantum noises in a prototype system that uses micromechanical mirror oscillators in a cryogenic system. The project will explore techniques to mitigate the effects of these noises in a small system so that they may be applied to large GW detectors in the future. The award will support and mentor students and encourage participants from non-traditional backgrounds and traditionally underrepresented groups. Participants in the research play a strong role in disseminating exciting physics research, including in the areas of quantum mechanics and GWs, through research talks, public talks, and lab tours.The Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) limits any continuous position measurement in which the measurement imprecision (shot noise) is uncorrelated with the quantum backaction (radiation pressure noise). The SQL may be breached, in principle, by correlating the two noises. In the proposed research, this will be experimentally demonstrated by using the optical spring effect in a detuned cavity with a movable 50 nanogram mirror. This system was previously used to observe quantum backaction at room temperature, and here will be cooled to 20 degrees Kelvin to reach the required sensitivity. Other methods to surpass the SQL, including the variational readout, will also be explored. The results of these experiments will inform the design of future GW detectors. The micromirror oscillators, with Brownian thermal noise below the SQL, are also candidates for unstable optomechanical filter cavities. The project will also develop techniques to measure the thermal noise at a level below the SQL.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项支持相对论和相对论天体物理学的研究，并阐述了美国国家科学基金会“宇宙之窗”大构想的优先领域。直接探测引力波(GW)是经过几十年的工作才得以实现的，这些工作发展了建造进行探测的干涉仪所需的物理和实验专业知识。GW探测器现在的灵敏度受到散粒噪声形式的量子噪声和辐射压力噪声形式的反向作用的限制，这些噪声与检测到的光子数量的计数误差有关。这个项目将在一个原型系统中探索这些量子噪声的相互作用，该原型系统使用低温系统中的微机械镜面振荡器。该项目将探索在一个小系统中减轻这些噪声影响的技术，以便它们可以在未来应用于大型GW探测器。该奖项将支持和指导学生，并鼓励来自非传统背景和传统上代表性不足的群体的参与者。研究参与者通过研究讲座、公开讲座和实验室参观，在传播令人兴奋的物理研究方面发挥了强大的作用，包括在量子力学和GWS领域。标准量子极限(SQL)限制了任何测量不精确(散粒噪声)与量子反作用(辐射压力噪声)无关的连续位置测量。原则上，通过将这两种噪音联系起来，可能会违反SQL。在拟议的研究中，这将通过使用光学弹簧效应在带有50纳克可移动反射镜的失谐腔中进行实验演示。该系统以前是用来在室温下观察量子反作用的，这里将冷却到20开尔文以达到所需的灵敏度。还将探索其他超越SQL的方法，包括变量读数。这些实验的结果将为未来GW探测器的设计提供参考。具有低于SQL的布朗热噪声的微镜振荡器也是不稳定光机械滤光腔的候选对象。该项目还将开发在低于SQL.的水平测量热噪声的技术。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Passive laser power stabilization via an optical spring

通过光学弹簧实现被动激光功率稳定

• DOI: 10.1364/ol.456535
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Optics Letters
• 影响因子: 3.6
• 作者: Cullen, Torrey;Aronson, Scott;Pagano, Ron;Trad Nery, Marina;Cain, Henry;Cripe, Jonathon;Cole, Garrett D.;Sharifi, Safura;Aggarwal, Nancy;Willke, Benno
• 通讯作者: Willke, Benno