Abstract
The angular orientation of an anisotropic scatterer with cylindrical symmetry in a linearly polarized light field represents an optomechanical librator. Here, we propose and theoretically analyze an optimal measurement scheme for the two angular degrees of freedom of such a librator. The imprecision–back-action product of this scheme reaches the Heisenberg uncertainty limit. Furthermore, we propose and analyze a realistic measurement scheme and show that, in the absence of spinning motion around the symmetry axis, measurement-based ground-state cooling of the rotational degrees of freedom of an anisotropic point scatterer levitated in an optical trap is feasible.
- Received 17 September 2021
- Accepted 25 April 2022
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.105.053504
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