Quantum sensing with optomechanical systems

Steven Steinke, Francesco Bariani, Swati Singh +2 more

S. Höfer, Klemens Hammerer

Raphael C. Pooser, Nicholas J. Savino, Emma Batson +3 more

Optomechanical systems have applications in nanoscale materials characterization and ultralight dark matter detection. Here we outline a quantum optomechanics readout method based on truncated nonlinear interferometry for sensing below the standard quantum limit.

Zeng‐Xing Liu, Xiao-Jie Zuo, Jia-Xin Peng +1 more

Quantum sensing, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics, has revolutionized the field of precision measurement by achieving sensitivities beyond the classical limits. Among the various platforms for quantum sensing, cavity optomechanics has emerged as a particularly promising field. It studies the interaction between light and mechanical resonators within high-Q optical cavities, providing unique opportunities for enhancing measurement precision and sensitivity in quantum sensing. With advancements in technology, the range of applications for cavity optomechanics in quantum sensing is expanding rapidly. Particularly, the integration of optoelectronic technologies and miniaturization techniques holds promise for the development of more compact, efficient, and scalable quantum sensors. Quantum sensing with cavity optomechanics has been extensively studied and has progressed enormously over the past decades. This paper provides a systematic review of research on quantum sensing with cavity optomechanics, starting from the fundamental principles of optomechanical coupling, to the achievement of quantum ground-state cooling of mechanical oscillators and the preparation of basic quantum states, and then to the mechanisms of quantum sensing based on cavity optomechanics. Furthermore, we survey recent advancements in quantum sensing utilizing cavity optomechanics, including the enhancement of optomechanical sensing through the use of entanglement, squeezing, and quantum exceptional points. Finally, perspectives and opportunities for future developments of this field are provided.

Javid Naikoo

We show that strongly amplified dynamical responses in cavity optomechanical systems can be harnessed for enhanced quantum sensing. By tuning the optomechanical interaction to a regime of enhanced susceptibility, weak perturbations produce disproportionately large changes in the system response, leading to substantially improved estimation precision. Using Gaussian estimation theory, we demonstrate that the quantum Fisher information exhibits a divergent scaling as the perturbation strength decreases, implying a corresponding suppression of the estimation error. We further show that heterodyne detection of the output cavity field yields the classical Fisher information with the same asymptotic scaling as the quantum Fisher information, demonstrating that the enhanced sensitivity is accessible with a standard measurement protocol. These results identify amplified optomechanical dynamics as a controllable resource for quantum enhanced sensing and metrology.

Shabir Barzanjeh, André Xuereb, Simon Gröblacher +3 more