Optically trapped nanoparticles have recently emerged as exciting candidates for tests of quantum mechanics at the macroscale and as versatile platforms for ultrasensitive metrology. Recent experiments have demonstrated parametric feedback cooling, nonequilibrium physics, and temperature detection, all in the classical regime. Here we provide the first quantum model for trapped nanoparticle cooling and force sensing. In contrast to existing theories, our work indicates that the nanomechanical ground state may be prepared without using an optical resonator; that the cooling mechanism corresponds to nonlinear friction; and that the energy loss during cooling is nonexponential in time. Our results show excellent agreement with experimental data in the classical limit, and constitute an underlying theoretical framework for experiments aiming at ground state preparation. Our theory also addresses the optimization of, and the fundamental quantum limit to, force sensing, thus providing theoretical direction to ongoing searches for ultra-weak forces using levitated nanoparticles.
Optically trapped nanoparticles have recently emerged as exciting candidates for tests of quantum mechanics at the macroscale and as versatile platforms for ultrasensitive metrology. Recent experiments have demonstrated parametric feedback cooling, nonequilibrium physics, and temperature detection, all in the classical regime. Here we provide the first quantum model for trapped nanoparticle cooling and force sensing. In contrast to existing theories, our work indicates that the nanomechanical ground state may be prepared without using an optical resonator; that the cooling mechanism corresponds to nonlinear friction; and that the energy loss during cooling is nonexponential in time. Our results show excellent agreement with experimental data in the classical limit, and constitute an underlying theoretical framework for experiments aiming at ground state preparation. Our theory also addresses the optimization of, and the fundamental quantum limit to, force sensing, thus providing theoretical direction to ongoing searches for ultra-weak forces using levitated nanoparticles.
Optically levitated nanoparticles have recently emerged as versatile platforms for investigating macroscopic quantum mechanics and enabling ultrasensitive metrology. In this paper we theoretically consider two damping regimes of an optically levitated nanoparticle cooled by cavityless parametric feedback. Our treatment is based on a generalized Fokker-Planck equation derived from the quantum master equation presented recently and shown to agree very well with experiment [B. Rodenburg, L. P. Neukirch, A. N. Vamivakas, and M. Bhattacharya, Quantum model of cooling and force sensing with an optically trapped nanoparticle, Optica 3, 318 (2016)]. For low damping, we find that the resulting Wigner function yields the single-peaked oscillator position distribution and recovers the appropriate energy distribution derived earlier using a classical theory and verified experimentally [J. Gieseler, R. Quidant, C. Dellago, and L. Novotny, Dynamic relaxation of a levitated nanoparticle from a non-equilibrium steady state, Nat. Nano. 9, 358 (2014)]. For high damping, in contrast, we predict a double-peaked position distribution, which we trace to an underlying bistability induced by feedback. Unlike in cavity-based optomechanics, stochastic processes play a major role in determining the bistable behavior. To support our conclusions, we present analytical expressions as well as numerical simulations using the truncated Wigner function approach. Our work opens up the prospect of developing bistability-based devices, characterization of phase-space dynamics, and investigation of the quantum-classical transition using levitated nanoparticles.
A nanoparticle trapped and cooled Cooling massive particles to the quantum ground state allows fundamental tests of quantum mechanics to be made; it would provide an experimental probe of the boundary between the classical and quantum worlds. Delić et al. laser-cooled an optically trapped solid-state object (a ∼150-nanometer-diameter silic a nanoparticle) into its quantum ground state of motion starting from room temperature. Because the object is levitated using optical forces, the experimental configuration can be switched to free fall, thereby providing a test bed for several macroscopic quantum experiments. Science , this issue p. 892
Optomechanics
Cooling massive particles to the quantum ground state allows fundamental tests of quantum mechanics to be made; it would provide an experimental probe of the boundary between the classical and quantum worlds. Delic et al. laser-cooled an optically trapped solid-state object (a ∼150-nanometer-diameter silic a nanoparticle) into its quantum ground state of motion starting from room temperature. Because the object is levitated using optical forces, the experimental configuration can be switched to free fall, thereby providing a test bed for several macroscopic quantum experiments.
Science , this issue p. [892][1]
[1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aba3993
Abstract Tests of quantum mechanics on a macroscopic scale require extreme control over mechanical motion and its decoherence [1-4]. Quantum control of mechanical motion has been achieved by engineering the radiation pressure coupling between a micromechanical oscillator and the electromagnetic field in a resonator [5-8]. Furthermore, measurement-based feedback control relying on cavity-enhanced detection schemes has been used to cool micromechanical oscillators to their quantum ground states [9]. In contrast to mechanically tethered systems, optically levitated nanoparticles are particularly promising candidates for matter-wave experiments with massive objects [10,11], since their trapping potential is fully controllable. In this work, we optically levitate a femto-gram dielectric particle in cryogenic free space, which suppresses thermal effects sufficiently to make the measurement backaction the dominant decoherence mechanism. With an efficient quantum measurement, we exert quantum control over the dynamics of the particle. We cool its center-of-mass motion by measurement-based feedback to an average occupancy of 0.65 motional quanta, corresponding to a state purity of 43%. The absence of an optical resonator and its bandwidth limitations holds promise to transfer the full quantum control available for electromagnetic fields to a mechanical system. Together with the fact that the optical trapping potential is highly controllable, our experimental platform offers a route to investigating quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales [12,13].
Abstract Tests of quantum mechanics on a macroscopic scale require extreme control over mechanical motion and its decoherence1–3. Quantum control of mechanical motion has been achieved by engineering the radiation–pressure coupling between a micromechanical oscillator and the electromagnetic field in a resonator4–7. Furthermore, measurement-based feedback control relying on cavity-enhanced detection schemes has been used to cool micromechanical oscillators to their quantum ground states8. In contrast to mechanically tethered systems, optically levitated nanoparticles are particularly promising candidates for matter-wave experiments with massive objects9, 10, since their trapping potential is fully controllable. Here we optically levitate a femtogram (10−15 grams) dielectric particle in cryogenic free space, which suppresses thermal effects sufficiently to make the measurement backaction the dominant decoherence mechanism. With an efficient quantum measurement, we exert quantum control over the dynamics of the particle. We cool its centre-of-mass motion by measurement-based feedback to an average occupancy of 0.65 motional quanta, corresponding to a state purity of 0.43. The absence of an optical resonator and its bandwidth limitations holds promise to transfer the full quantum control available for electromagnetic fields to a mechanical system. Together with the fact that the optical trapping potential is highly controllable, our experimental platform offers a route to investigating quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales11.
Optically levitated nanoparticles have recently emerged as versatile platforms for investigating macroscopic quantum mechanics and enabling ultrasensitive metrology.In this article we theoretically consider two damping regimes of an optically levitated nanoparticle cooled by cavityless parametric feedback.Our treatment is based on a generalized Fokker-Planck equation derived from the quantum master equation presented recently and shown to agree very well with experiment [1].For low damping, we find that the resulting Wigner function yields the single-peaked oscillator position distribution and recovers the appropriate energy distribution derived earlier using a classical theory and verified experimentally [2].For high damping, in contrast, we predict a double-peaked position distribution, which we trace to an underlying bistability induced by feedback.Unlike in cavitybased optomechanics, stochastic processes play a major role in determining the bistable behavior.To support our conclusions, we present analytical expressions as well as numerical simulations using the truncated Wigner function approach.Our work opens up the prospect of developing bistabilitybased devices, characterization of phase-space dynamics, and investigation of the quantum-classical transition using levitated nanoparticles.