Experimental realization of a thermal squeezed state of levitated optomechanics
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We experimentally squeeze the thermal motional state of an optically levitated nanosphere by fast switching between two trapping frequencies. The measured phase-space distribution of the center of mass of our particle shows the typical shape of a squeezed thermal state, from which we infer up to 2.7 dB of squeezing along one motional direction. In these experiments the average thermal occupancy is high and, even after squeezing, the motional state remains in the remit of classical statistical mechanics. Nevertheless, we argue that the manipulation scheme described here could be used to achieve squeezing in the quantum regime if preceded by cooling of the levitated mechanical oscillator. Additionally, a higher degree of squeezing could, in principle, be achieved by repeating the frequency-switching protocol multiple times.
Date Issued
2016-12-30
Date Acceptance
2016-12-01
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2016, 117 (27)
ISSN
1079-7114
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
117
Issue
27
Copyright Statement
© 2016 American Physical Society
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
The Leverhulme Trust
The Royal Society
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000391034800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/K034480/1
RPG-2014-055
WM140063
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
OSCILLATOR
FREQUENCY
General Physics
02 Physical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 273601