Collective motion of ultracold atoms strongly coupled to an optical resonator

与光学谐振器强耦合的超冷原子的集体运动

• 批准号: 0801827
• 负责人: Dan Stamper-Kurn
• 金额: $ 43.22万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-07-01 至 2011-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0801827&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collective; motion; ultracold; atoms; strongly

The theory of quantum mechanics famously places restrictions on the amount of information we can ever gather about some physical system. One route for exploring the limits of quantum metrology is the measurement of motion of macroscopic mechanical oscillators, for example nanofabricated cantilevers or membranes of various types. While these systems have yet to reach quantum limits of sensitivity and state-preparation, they hold promise for addressing the intriguing question of whether quantum mechanics retains its validity for describing ever-larger objects. This project represents a novel approach to micro-mechanics and quantum measurement. In it the collective motion of a macroscopic ensemble of ultracold atoms takes the place of the nanofabricated mechanical resonator. The advantages of using this system are that the resonator can be cooled directly to its quantum-mechanical ground state and that the mechanisms for actuating and measuring the resonator are founded solidly on quantum optics. In this work, the PI and his students will investigate quantum limited measurements, classical and quantum aspects of bistable motion, and, ultimately, the effects of strong coupling between the quantum fluctuations of a mechanical object and a single-mode light field.This work will inform the development of quantum technologies of various types, including superconducting quantum-interference (SQUID) amplifiers and nanomechanical resonators, by giving clear guidelines for approaching quantum limited performance. Achieving quantum limits for detecting the motion of cold atoms is also directly applicable to cold-atom-based interferometric sensors that are being presently developed and deployed. Finally, in training graduate students at the intersection of quantum optics, atomic physics, and condensed-matter physics, the project will help to develop the quantum scientists and engineers who will realize the benefits of nascent quantum technologies.

量子力学理论是对我们可以收集的有关某种物理系统的信息的限制。 探索量子计量学限制的一条途径是测量宏观机械振荡器的运动，例如纳米制造的悬臂或各种类型的膜。尽管这些系统尚未达到敏感性和状态准备的量子限制，但它们有望解决量子力学是否保留其描述越来越多物体的有效性的有趣问题。 该项目代表了微型力学和量子测量的一种新型方法。 在其中，超速原子的宏观集合的集体运动取代了纳米制度的机械谐振器。 使用该系统的优点是，可以将谐振器直接冷却到其量子力学基态，并且稳固的谐振机制稳固地建立在量子光学上。 在这项工作中，PI和他的学生将研究量子有限的测量，可动运动的经典和量子方面，以及最终，在机械对象的量子波动和单模光场之间强耦合的影响。将通过为量子有限的性能提供明确的指南，告知各种类型的量子技术的开发，包括超导量子干扰器（squid）放大器和纳米力学谐振器。 实现用于检测冷原子运动的量子极限也直接适用于目前正在开发和部署的基于冷原子的干涉​​传感器。 最后，在量子光学，原子理和凝结物理学交集的培训研究生中，该项目将有助于发展量子科学家和工程师，这些量子科学家和工程师将实现新生量子技术的好处。