Cooling of a levitated nanoparticle to the motional quantum ground state

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Abstract

Quantum control of complex objects in the regime of large size and mass provides opportunities for sensing applications and tests of fundamental physics. The realization of such extreme quantum states of matter remains a major challenge. We demonstrate a quantum interface that combines optical trapping of solids with cavity-mediated light matter interaction. Precise control over the frequency and position of the trap laser with respect to the optical cavity allows us to laser-cool an optically trapped nanoparticle into its quantum ground state of motion from room temperature. The particle comprises of 10 ⁸ atoms, similar to current Bose-Einstein condensates, with the density of a solid object. Our cooling, in combination with optical trap manipulation, may enable otherwise unachievable superposition states involving large masses.

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Observation of a single-beam gradient force optical trap for dielectric particles

A Ashkin, J M Dziedzic, J. E. Bjorkholm … (1986)

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Cavity opto-mechanics using an optically levitated nanosphere

D. Chang, C A Regal, S Papp … (2010)

Recently, remarkable advances have been made in coupling a number of high-Q modes of nano-mechanical systems to high-finesse optical cavities, with the goal of reaching regimes in which quantum behavior can be observed and leveraged toward new applications. To reach this regime, the coupling between these systems and their thermal environments must be minimized. Here we propose a novel approach to this problem, in which optically levitating a nano-mechanical system can greatly reduce its thermal contact, while simultaneously eliminating dissipation arising from clamping. Through the long coherence times allowed, this approach potentially opens the door to ground-state cooling and coherent manipulation of a single mesoscopic mechanical system or entanglement generation between spatially separate systems, even in room-temperature environments. As an example, we show that these goals should be achievable when the mechanical mode consists of the center-of-mass motion of a levitated nanosphere.