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Observation of Generalized Optomechanical Coupling and Cooling on Cavity Resonance

Andreas Sawadsky, Henning Kaufer, Ramon Moghadas Nia, Sergey P. Tarabrin, Farid Ya. Khalili, Klemens Hammerer, and Roman Schnabel
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 043601 – Published 26 January 2015
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Abstract

Optomechanical coupling between a light field and the motion of a cavity mirror via radiation pressure plays an important role for the exploration of macroscopic quantum physics and for the detection of gravitational waves (GWs). It has been used to cool mechanical oscillators into their quantum ground states and has been considered to boost the sensitivity of GW detectors, e.g., via the optical spring effect. Here, we present the experimental characterization of generalized, that is, dispersive and dissipative, optomechanical coupling, with a macroscopic (1.5  mm)2-size silicon nitride membrane in a cavity-enhanced Michelson-type interferometer. We report for the first time strong optomechanical cooling based on dissipative coupling, even on cavity resonance, in excellent agreement with theory. Our result will allow for new experimental regimes in macroscopic quantum physics and GW detection.

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  • Received 8 September 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.043601

© 2015 American Physical Society

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Published 26 January 2015

A new scheme for cooling a mechanical oscillator in a cavity may allow the observation of quantum effects on macroscopic objects and the realization of ultrasensitive gravitational-wave detectors.

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Authors & Affiliations

Andreas Sawadsky1, Henning Kaufer1, Ramon Moghadas Nia1,2, Sergey P. Tarabrin1,3, Farid Ya. Khalili4, Klemens Hammerer1,3, and Roman Schnabel1,*

  • 1Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover and Max-Planck Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein Institut), Callinstraße 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
  • 2Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
  • 3Institut für Theoretische Physik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 2, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
  • 4Department of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia

  • *Corresponding author. roman.schnabel@aei.mpg.de

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Vol. 114, Iss. 4 — 30 January 2015

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