Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 33: Micromechanical oscillators

Q 33.8: Talk

Thursday, March 20, 2014, 12:15–12:30, DO24 1.101

Cavity cooling of an optically levitated submicron particle — •Florian Blaser, Nikolai Kiesel, Uros Delic, David Grass, Rainer Kaltenbaek, and Markus Aspelmeyer — Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

The coupling of a levitated dielectric particle to an optical cavity field promises access to a unique parameter regime both for macroscopic quantum experiments [1] and for high-sensitivity force detection [2]. We present the experimental demonstration of such interactions by cavity cooling the center-of-mass motion of an optically trapped sub micron particle with a mass of 10¹⁰ amu [3]. A detailed experimental analysis of this new system reveals interesting features not present in other optomechanical systems, such as the ability to control the mechanical frequency in situ or a non-trivial dependence of the optomechanical coupling on the cooling power.

Our results pave the way for a new light-matter interface enabling room-temperature quantum experiments [4]. We discuss the next steps in this direction, in particular the implementation of ultra-high quality mechanical resonators and ground state cooling of the sub-micron particle motion.

[1] Romero-Isart et al., NJP 12, 33015 (2010), Chang et al. PNAS 107, 0912969107, (2009), Barker et al., PRA 81, 023826 (2010). [2] Geraci et al, PRL, 105, 101101 (2010) [3] Kiesel et al. PNAS 110, 35, 14180-14185 (2013) [4] Romero-Isart et al., PRL, 107, 020405 (2011), Kaltenbaek, et al., MAQRO, Exp. Astro., 1-42 (2012)