Quantum meets Mechanics: Mechanical Systems as New Resources for Quantum Technologies

From QCLab
File:Hong, Sungkun.jpg
Prof. Hong, Sungkun (KAIST)


Studying quantum behaviors of mesoscopic mechanical systems is an emerging field in quantum science. The main experimental approach is optomechanics, where photons (or electromagnetic radiations) are used to measure and manipulate the motional states of mechanical structures like micromechanical oscillators. Optomechanics, together with advancements in micro- and nanofabrication, has allowed us to observe and control mechanical resonators at a quantum level. This opens new exciting possibilities for quantum science and technology as well as for studying quantum physics in hitherto untested macroscopic scales. In this talk, I will describe two of my major researches on experimental quantum optomechanics. I will first report on our progress in utilizing on-chip optomechanical devices as a new resource for quantum information. Combining pulsed optical controls and single photon detection, we demonstrated a method that creates quantum states of a silicon micromechanical resonator at a single phonon level. Using this scheme, we generated the remote entanglement between two mechanical modes, paving the way for mechanics-based optical quantum memory and network. Next, I will introduce a novel, hybrid optomechanical system consisting of optically levitated nanoparticles and micro-fabricated photonic crystal cavity. The system combines excellent mechanical quality and flexibility stemming from optical levitation and an efficient optical interface based on nanophotonic cavities. It thus opens completely new possibilities for mechanics-based quantum sensing and genuine quantum experiments on the macroscopic motion of the particle. I will discuss the current status of the experiment and future plans of the work that include the development of novel quantum sensors and the matter-wave interferometry in new mass scales.