Optimal estimation of optomechanical couplings
József Zsolt Bernád, Claudio Sanavio, André Xuereb
Abstract
We apply the formalism of quantum estimation theory to obtain information about the value of \nthe optomechanical coupling in the simplest model of two harmonic oscillators. In particular, we \ndiscuss the minimum mean-square error estimator and a quantum Cram er-Rao inequality for the \nestimation and accuracy of the coupling's value. Our estimation strategy reveals some cases, where \nquantum statistical inference is inconclusive and only prior expectations on the coupling strength \nare reassured. We show that this situations involve also the highest expected information losses. It \nis demonstrated that interaction times in the order of one time period of mechanical oscillations are \nthe most suitable for this type of estimation scenario. We also compare situations involving di erent \ninitial photon and phonon excitations.