Erzeugung von opto-mechanischen Quantenzuständen

The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the ability to optically prepare, detect, manipulate and transfer quantum states of massive mechanical systems. This is achieved by combining in a unique way methods from the fields of quantum optics, quantum information and micro-fabrication. The main idea is to use opto-mechanical coupling of massive micrometer sized mirrors inside high-finesse cavities together with new passive laser-cooling schemes and post-selection methods adapted from quantum information processing. This relaxes the experimental constraints compared to other existing proposals significantly since, contrary to common belief, neither non- classical input states nor ground-state environmental temperatures are needed. Available state-of-the-art technologies should allow to achieve the proposed objectives within a two-year time-frame. Quantum control over such systems is not only of relevance for fundamental aspects of quantum physics but it also opens up new and exciting prospects for solid-state quantum information processing.

Quantum Opto-Mechanics has become a new field of research that exploits radiation pressure interactions in optical cavities to enter and control the quantum regime of nano- and micromechanical systems. The project OPTOMECH was one of the worldwide first funded projects on quantum opto-mechanics and probably worldwide the first to specifically pursue experimentally the quantum aspect in micro- and nano-optomechanical interactions. The results of OPTOMECH have significantly contributed to the state of the art in the field. They include the first cooling of a micromechanical object with laser light in a cryogenic cavity, the demonstration of laser-cooling of this object to world-record low temperatures of a few mK, i.e. only 30 thermal quanta above the ultimate quantum limit, and the first demonstration of the strong coupling regime between light and a micromechanical mirror. These results pave the way for future quantum experiments with massive mechanical devices.