Boston Chapter of the IEEE Photonics Society

Abstract:  There has been considerable effort in the past few years within the quantum optics, solid state and gravity wave detection communities to demonstrate quantum behavior in nano- to micronscale and even larger mechanical resonators. Approaches typically involve strongly coupling the mechanical resonator to a controllable quantum coherent system, such as a superconducting quantum interference device, or to a laser field trapped in a high finesse cavity where one of the mirrors forms the mechanical resonator.  Other motivations for investigating such electromechanical and optomechanical devices include metrology, in particular ultrasensitive displacement, force or mass sensing.   We give an overview of this emerging field, describing some of the key proposals and experiments underway to demonstrate manifest quantum (e.g., entangled and superposition) states of mechanical resonators. We also discuss some of the important relevant issues, including alternative, non-cryogenic methods for cooling mechanical resonators close to their quantum ground state and the nature of low temperature, mechanical resonator damping mechanisms.

Biography:  Miles Blencowe received his B.Sc. (1986) and Ph.D. (1989) degrees in theoretical physics at Imperial College. He subsequently held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Cambridge (1989-1991), the University of Chicago (1991-1993), and the University of British Columbia (1993-1994). Following a senior research associate position at Imperial College (1994-1999), he moved to Dartmouth College where he is currently an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. His research interests lie in the areas of mesoscopic physics, quantum information theory applied to solid-state systems, and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.