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arXiv · 2408.01734

Enhanced Laser Cooling of a Mechanical Resonator via Zero-Photon Detection

Evan A. Cryer-Jenkins·Kyle D. Major·Jack Clarke·Georg Enzian·Magdalena Szczykulska·Jinglei Zhang·Arjun Gupta·Anthony C. Leung·Harsh Rathee·Andreas Ø. Svela·Anthony K. C. Tan·Almut Beige·Klaus Mølmer·Michael R. Vanner
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Abstract

Throughout quantum science and technology, measurement is used as a powerful resource for nonlinear operations and quantum state engineering. In particular, single-photon detection is commonly employed for quantum-information applications and tests of fundamental physics. By contrast, and perhaps counter-intuitively, measurement of the absence of photons also provides useful information, and offers significant potential for a wide range of new experimental directions. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate cooling of a mechanical resonator below its laser-cooled mechanical occupation via zero-photon detection on the anti-Stokes scattered optical field and verify this cooling through heterodyne measurements. Our measurements are well captured by a stochastic master equation and the techniques introduced here open new avenues for cooling, quantum thermodynamics, quantum state engineering, and quantum measurement and control.

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BibTeXRIS

Evan A. Cryer-Jenkins, Kyle D. Major, Jack Clarke, Georg Enzian, Magdalena Szczykulska, Jinglei Zhang, Arjun Gupta, Anthony C. Leung, Harsh Rathee, Andreas Ø. Svela, Anthony K. C. Tan, Almut Beige, Klaus Mølmer, Michael R. Vanner. 2024-08-03. Enhanced Laser Cooling of a Mechanical Resonator via Zero-Photon Detection. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.134.073601

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