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Measurement of Motion beyond the Quantum Limit by Transient Amplification

R. D. Delaney, A. P. Reed, R. W. Andrews, and K. W. Lehnert
Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 183603 – Published 30 October 2019
Physics logo See Synopsis: A “Quiet” Measurement of a Quantum Drum
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Abstract

Through simultaneous but unequal electromechanical amplification and cooling processes, we create a method for a nearly noiseless pulsed measurement of mechanical motion. We use transient electromechanical amplification (TEA) to monitor a single motional quadrature with a total added noise 8.5±2.0dB relative to the zero-point motion of the oscillator, or equivalently the quantum limit for simultaneous measurement of both mechanical quadratures. We demonstrate that TEA can be used to resolve fine structure in the phase space of a mechanical oscillator by tomographically reconstructing the density matrix of a squeezed state of motion. Without any inference or subtraction of noise, we directly observe a squeezed variance 2.8±0.3dB below the oscillator’s zero-point motion.

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  • Received 2 August 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.183603

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsQuantum Information, Science & Technology

Synopsis

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A “Quiet” Measurement of a Quantum Drum

Published 30 October 2019

A new technique allows for more precise measurements of a quantum oscillator’s time-varying displacement, with potential applications in quantum information.

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Authors & Affiliations

R. D. Delaney1,2,*, A. P. Reed1,2,3, R. W. Andrews1,2,4, and K. W. Lehnert1,2,5

  • 1JILA, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
  • 3Honeywell Quantum Solutions, Broomfield, Colorado 80021, USA
  • 4HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, California 90265, USA
  • 5National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA

  • *robert.delaney@colorado.edu

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Issue

Vol. 123, Iss. 18 — 1 November 2019

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