Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Precision gravimetry is key to a number of scientific and industrial applications, including climate change research, space exploration, geological surveys and fundamental investigations into the nature of gravity. A variety of quantum systems, such as atom interferometry and on-chip-Bose–Einstein condensates have thus far been investigated to this aim. Here, we propose a new method which involves using a quantum optomechanical system for measurements of gravitational acceleration. As a proof-of-concept, we investigate the fundamental sensitivity for gravitational accelerometry of a cavity optomechanical system with a trilinear radiation pressure light-matter interaction. The phase of the optical output encodes the gravitational acceleration g and is the only component which needs to be measured. We prove analytically that homodyne detection is the optimal readout method and we predict an ideal fundamental sensitivity of Δ g = 10 −15 ms −2 for state-of-the-art parameters of optomechanical systems, showing that they could, in principle, surpass the best atomic interferometers even for low optical intensities. Further, we show that the scheme is strikingly robust to the initial thermal state of the oscillator.
Source: Nature Communications
Institution: University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: Quantum feedback control of levitating opto-mechanics, G2285988359, G4188251419, Laser refrigeration on the nanoscale: From nanocryostats to quantum optomechanics, Quantum Cavity Optomechanics of Levitated Nanoparticles: from Foundations to Technologies, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Delivering Quantum Technologies, G7259825941, G795331755, G8794046178
OpenAlex ID: W2725145386