Observation of quantum-measurement backaction with an ultracold atomic gas Export

@article{citeulike:3057219, 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.}, author = {Murch, Kater W. and Moore, Kevin L. and Gupta, Subhadeep and Stamper-Kurn, Dan M.}, citeulike-article-id = {3057219}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys965}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys965}, day = {18}, doi = {10.1038/nphys965}, issn = {1745-2473}, journal = {Nature Physics}, keywords = {action, atomic, back, cooling, gas, quantum, resonator, ultracold}, month = {May}, number = {7}, pages = {561--564}, posted-at = {2008-07-31 09:33:58}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {Observation of quantum-measurement backaction with an ultracold atomic gas}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys965}, volume = {4}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3057219 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3057219 N2 - 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. IS - 7 JF - Nature Physics SN - 1745-2473 EP - 564 TI - Observation of quantum-measurement backaction with an ultracold atomic gas PB - Nature Publishing Group VL - 4 SP - 561 KW - action KW - atomic KW - back KW - cooling KW - gas KW - quantum KW - resonator KW - ultracold AU - Murch, Kater AU - Moore, Kevin AU - Gupta, Subhadeep AU - Stamper-Kurn, Dan PY - 2008/05/18/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys965 ER -