Article abstract
Nature Physics 4, 561 - 564 (2008)
Published online: 18 May 2008 | doi:10.1038/nphys965
Subject Categories: Atomic and molecular physics | Quantum physics
Observation of quantum-measurement backaction with an ultracold atomic gas
Kater W. Murch1, Kevin L. Moore1, Subhadeep Gupta1 & Dan M. Stamper-Kurn1,2
Abstract
Current research on micromechanical resonators strives for quantum-limited detection of the motion of macroscopic objects. Prerequisite to this goal is the observation of measurement backaction consistent with quantum metrology limits. However, thermal noise currently dominates measurements and precludes ground-state preparation of the resonator. Here, we establish the collective motion of an ultracold atomic gas confined tightly within a Fabry–Perot optical cavity as a system for investigating the quantum mechanics of macroscopic bodies. The cavity-mode structure selects a particular collective vibrational motion that is measured by the cavity's optical properties, actuated by the cavity optical field and subject to backaction by the quantum force fluctuations of this field. Experimentally, we quantify such fluctuations by measuring the cavity-light-induced heating of the intracavity atomic ensemble. These measurements represent the first observation of backaction on a macroscopic mechanical resonator at the standard quantum limit.
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Correspondence to: Dan M. Stamper-Kurn1,2 e-mail: dmsk@berkeley.edu
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Microphotonics Playing with atomsNature Photonics News and Views (01 Nov 2007)
Millihertz-linewidth lasers A sharper laserNature Physics News and Views (01 Jun 2009)
See all 6 matches for News And ViewsRESEARCH
Strong atom?field coupling for Bose?Einstein condensates in an optical cavity on a chipNature Letters to Editor (08 Nov 2007)
Vacuum-stimulated cooling of single atoms in three dimensionsNature Physics Article (01 Nov 2005)
See all 73 matches for Research
