Experimental Optomechanics

我们的研究目标是实现光驱动的超灵敏微机械传感器。为此，我们制造了精致的“微型蹦床”，展示了创纪录的力敏感性和与光学的兼容性，使得极少量的光--在单个光子的水平上--所施加的力将深刻地影响它们的运动。此外，通过部分悬浮这样的系统，我们可以通过基本上用光取代柔性材料来增强这种灵敏度。最后，我们追求一种定性的新系统，在该系统中，光控制振荡质量的空间分布。这些努力将使我们能够研究宏观量子运动，在量子比特和光之间传输量子信息，并探测zeptonewton力。

Our research aims to realize ultrasensitive micromechanical sensors actuated by light. To this end, we fabricate delicate "micro-trampolines" exhibiting record force sen-sitivity and compatibility with optics such that the forces exerted by an extra-ordinarily small quantity of light -- at the level of a single photon -- will profoundly influence their motion. Additionally, by partially levitating such systems, we can enhance this sensitivity by essentially replacing flexible materials with light. Finally, we pursue a qualitatively new system in which light controls the spatial distribution of oscillating mass. These efforts will enable us to study macroscopic quantum motion, shuttle quantum information between qubits and light, and detect zeptonewton forces.