Demonstrating coherent optomechanical control of spin quantum memory

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Optomechanical devices couple light to mechanical objects through optical radiation pressure: the force exerted on an interface by photons scattering off it. When implemented at the nanoscale, these devices enable coherent optical driving of mechanical motion. This motion can in turn be coupled to a wide range of physical systems, including those that do not otherwise interact with light, allowing optomechanical devices to control such optically “dark” systems. The equipment described in this request is urgently needed for world leading experiments of this nature: using optomechanics to interface light with electron spins. These spins excel as quantum memories needed for quantum networks, but they do not connect to telecommunication wavelength photons best suited for these networks. By harnessing the ability of mechanical objects to couple to both light and spin systems, optomechanical devices can solve this problem. The requested funding for equipment complements NSERC Discovery, CREATE and Strategic Partnership grants awarded to the Barclay lab to support HQP working in the area of quantum spin-optomechanics, and is critically needed for HQP to finish demonstrating the first optomechanical spin-photon interface. The Barclay lab has established itself as the world leader in fabricating optomechanical devices from diamond. Using a nanofabrication process invented by lab HQP and adopted by research groups at institutions such as Stanford and MIT, lab HQP have created diamond optomechanical devices whose mechanical motion can be exquisitely controlled with light, leading to awards and high impact publications. HQP are now attempting to use this powerful optomechanical control to interface telecommunication wavelength light with quantum memories formed by the electron spin of diamond nitrogen vacancy centre defects. HQP have recently made the world's first proof-of-principle measurements demonstrating this long sought-after interface. However, recent equipment failures, as well as technical problems with the apparatus, have prevented the completion of this milestone experiment. The requested equipment will address these barriers by making necessary repairs and equipment upgrades; without it this first demonstration cannot be completed. Realising this interface will establish Canada as the world leader in spin-optomechanical systems. This project is being conducted in close competition with several formidable international research groups. Any delay in acquiring the equipment will cause the Barclay lab's current advantage to be lost and allow other researchers (e.g. at UCSB and Harvard) to catch up. This will severely diminish the impact of the work and negatively affect HQP outcomes. This equipment will be immediately used by approximately 10 HQP, with another 10 projected to benefit from it over the next five years, all of whom work in an inclusive and supportive environment that strives to reduce existing inequities in physics research.