Optomechanics in the microwave regime for quantum technologies and fundamental sciences

在过去的二十年里，量子科学和技术取得了令人难以置信的进步，从量子物理的基础研究发展到一个跨学科的研究领域。虽然历史上的实验使用单个电子或原子/离子来展示显著的效应(如粒子波对偶、纠缠)，但现在许多努力都集中在控制日益复杂的系统的量子性质上。这种方法不仅有望加深我们对量子力学的理解，而且还可以将量子态用于传感或实现量子网络等技术应用。在这种背景下，机械系统尤其有希望，因为它们可以被精确地设计，并在不同的电磁模式之间提供良好的接口。对于信息无法复制的量子信息处理，这种方法因此构成了通过机械模式在可见光和微波波长之间传输信息的一个很有前途的候选方案。这种称为量子转换的操作构成了实现能够处理量子信息的网络的关键技术元素。然而，微波、可见光和机械三种模式之间的相互作用强度仍然太弱，无法处理包含在单个光子中的信息。通过这项研究，我们的目标是进一步推动复杂混合光电系统的控制。为了改善机电耦合(微波和机械之间)，我们最近展示了一种新的方法，其中机械调制电路的电感，与电容耦合相比，提供了超过一个数量级的改进。利用我们方法的多功能性，我们将追求两个主要目标：(I)传感器和(Ii)传感器。(一)，我们将开发基于感应机电的量子换能器，目标是达到高的单光子效率。这将使量子信息在遥远的量子处理器之间传输成为可能，这是通过分布式计算来提高量子计算机性能的一种很有前途的方法。(Ii)，我们亦会研究利用机电系统进行惯性/加速度感应。事实上，通过实现更大的耦合，可以更快地提取信息，同时减少措施引起的后退。这种方法特别有希望实现机械传感器在量子力学定律允许的基本极限下工作，提供了相对于经典系统的明显优势。总体而言，通过这一发现计划，我们的目标是开发量子信息处理和传感的关键技术，为在一个不断增长的行业创建加拿大初创公司创造机会。此外，对复杂混合系统的研究还将导致有趣的发现，在这些发现中，量子力学强烈地影响着介观对象的动力学。

Over the last two decades, quantum sciences and technologies have made incredible progress, evolving from fundamental studies in quantum physics to a cross-disciplinary research field. While historic experiments used single electrons or atoms/ions to demonstrate remarkable effects (e.g. particle-wave duality, entanglement), now a lot of efforts are focused on controlling the quantum properties of systems with increasing complexity. This approach is not only promising to further our understanding of quantum mechanics, but also enables the use of quantum states for technological applications such as sensing or the realisation of quantum networks. In this context, mechanical systems are particularly promising as they can be precisely engineered and provide an excellent interface between different electromagnetic modes. For quantum information processing, where information cannot be copied, this approach thus constitutes a promising candidate to transfer information between visible and microwave wavelengths through a mechanical mode. This operation, called quantum transduction, constitute a key technological element to realise networks capable of handling quantum information. Nevertheless, the interaction strengths between the three modes - microwave, visible and mechanical - are still too weak to process information contained in single photons. With this research we aim to push further the control of complex hybrid opto-electromechanical systems. To improve the electromechanical coupling (between microwave and mechanics), we recently demonstrated a novel approach where the mechanics modulates the inductance of the circuit, providing an improvement of more than an order of magnitude compared to capacitive coupling. Capitalising on the versatility of our approach, we will pursue two main objectives: (i) transducers and (ii) sensors. (i), we will develop quantum transducers based on inductive electromechanics, aiming to reach high single-photon efficiencies. This will enable the transfer of quantum information between distant quantum processors, a promising approach to improve the performances of quantum computer via distributed computing. (ii), we will also work on the use of electromechanical systems for inertial/acceleration sensing. Indeed, by achieving larger couplings information can be extracted faster while reducing the back-action induced by the measure. This approach is particularly promising to realise mechanical sensors operating at the fundamental limits allowed by the laws of quantum mechanics, providing a clear advantage over classical systems. Overall, with this Discovery program we aim to develop key technologies for quantum information processing as well as sensing, generating opportunities for the creation of Canadian start-up companies in a growing sector. Furthermore, the study of complex hybrid systems will also lead to interesting discoveries where quantum mechanics strongly influence the dynamics of mesoscopic objects.