Abstract
Optomechanical systems typically use light to control the quantum state of a mechanical resonator. In this paper, we propose a scheme for controlling the quantum state of light using the mechanical degree of freedom as a controlled beam splitter. Preparing the mechanical resonator in non-classical states enables an optomechanical Stern–Gerlach interferometer. When the mechanical resonator has a small coherent amplitude it acts as a quantum control, entangling the optical and mechanical degrees of freedom. As the coherent amplitude of the resonator increases, we recover single photon and two-photon interference via a classically controlled beam splitter. The visibility of the two-photon interference is particularly sensitive to coherent excitations in the mechanical resonator and this could form the basis of an optically transduced weak-force sensor.
Highlights
20 June 2016Optomechanical systems typically use light to control the quantum state of a mechanical resonator
Over the last decade, the new domain of engineered quantum systems has attracted considerable research interest [1,2,3], the objective of which is to control the quantum world
We have specified an optomechanical scheme in which the quantum state of a mechanical resonator can be used as a quantum controller for single photon excitations in each of two waveguide modes
Summary
Optomechanical systems typically use light to control the quantum state of a mechanical resonator. We propose a scheme for controlling the quantum state of light using the mechanical degree of freedom as a controlled beam splitter. Preparing the mechanical resonator in non-classical states enables an optomechanical Stern–Gerlach interferometer. When the mechanical resonator has a small coherent amplitude it acts as a quantum control, entangling the optical and mechanical degrees of freedom. As the coherent amplitude of the resonator increases, we recover single photon and twophoton interference via a classically controlled beam splitter. The visibility of the two-photon interference is sensitive to coherent excitations in the mechanical resonator and this could form the basis of an optically transduced weak-force sensor
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have