Quantum-measurement backaction from a Bose-Einstein condensate coupled to a mechanical oscillator

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.023841· OSTI ID:22068583

Steinke, S K; Singh, S; Tasgin, M E; Meystre, P ^[1]; Schwab, K C ^[2]; Vengalattore, M ^[3]

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1. B2 Institute, Department of Physics and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States)
2. Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, MC 128-95, Pasadena, California 91125 (United States)
3. Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)

We study theoretically the dynamics of a hybrid optomechanical system consisting of a macroscopic mechanical membrane magnetically coupled to a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate via a nanomagnet attached at the membrane center. We demonstrate that this coupling permits us to monitor indirectly the center-of-mass position of the membrane via measurements of the spin of the condensed atoms. These measurements normally induce a significant backaction on the membrane motion, which we quantify for the cases of thermal and coherent initial states of the membrane. We discuss the possibility of measuring this quantum backaction via repeated measurements. We also investigate the potential to generate nonclassical states of the membrane, in particular Schroedinger-cat states, via such repeated measurements.

• OSTI ID: 22068583
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 84; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION
CENTER-OF-MASS SYSTEM
COUPLING
MEMBRANES
MIXED STATES
OSCILLATORS
SPIN