Harnessing Mesoscopic Mechanical Systems for New Quantum Technologies

From QCLab
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Prof. Hong, Sungkun (KAIST)


Quantum optomechanics is an emerging field in quantum science that aims to control quantum motions of mechanical objects using light-matter interactions. In recent years, the researchers started gaining quantum control over several mesoscopic mechanical systems. This advancement opens exciting possibilities for developing new quantum technologies and for testing quantum physics beyond the microscopic world. In this talk, I will describe two of my works on experimental quantum optomechanics.

I will present our progress in utilizing on-chip optomechanical devices as a new resource for quantum information processing. By combining pulsed optical controls and single photon detection, we created quantum states of a silicon micromechanical resonator at a single phonon level. Based on this method, we generated the remote entanglement between two mechanical modes, paving the way for mechanics-based optical quantum memories and networks.

I will also introduce a new optomechanical system that consists of an optically levitated nanoparticle and microfabricated photonic crystal cavities. This hybrid system will exhibit an exceptional combination of mechanical quality, flexibility, and controllability, allowing for a new level of quantum control over the particle’s motion. I will discuss the current status of the experiment and plans on further developing the system for novel quantum sensing applications.