Macroscopic mechanical oscillator is herded into a Schrödinger cat state

Generation of macroscopic Schrödinger cat state in diamond mechanical resonator

We propose a scheme to generate macroscopic Schrödinger cat state (SCS) in diamond mechanical resonator (DMR) via the dynamical strain-mediated coupling mechanism. In our model, the direct coupling between the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center and lattice strain field enables coherent spin-phonon interactions in the quantum regime. Based on a cyclic Δ-type transition structure of the NV center const...

Optical actuation of a macroscopic mechanical oscillator

An intensity-modulated HeNe-laser beam was utilized to optically actuate the mechanical resonance of a macroscopic torsional silicon oscillator (f 0 = 67 700 Hz, Q = 42 100 at p = 1 mbar and T = 300 K). Both radiation pressure and photothermal effects may cause optical actuation of a mechanical device. Both excitation effects were studied. In actuation through radiation pressure, the actuating ...

Microwave Electromechanics: Measuring and Manipulating the Quantum State of a Macroscopic Mechanical Oscillator

Nonlinear modes of a macroscopic quantum oscillator

We consider the Bose–Einstein condensate in a parabolic trap as a macroscopic quantum oscillator and describe, analytically and numerically, its collective modes — a nonlinear generalisation of the (symmetric and antisymmetric) Hermite–Gauss eigenmodes of a harmonic quantum oscillator.  2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 03.75.F; 03.75.-b; 03.50.-z; 73.20.Dx The recent obser...

A Schrödinger cat living in two boxes.

Quantum superpositions of distinct coherent states in a single-mode harmonic oscillator, known as "cat states," have been an elegant demonstration of Schrödinger's famous cat paradox. Here, we realize a two-mode cat state of electromagnetic fields in two microwave cavities bridged by a superconducting artificial atom, which can also be viewed as an entangled pair of single-cavity cat states. We...