Coupled multimode optomechanics in the microwave regime

TL;DR

This paper proposes and analyzes coupled multimode microwave optomechanical systems, enabling new control methods for microwave fields and quantum state detection in nanomechanical resonators.

Contribution

It introduces coupled microwave resonator systems with mechanical interactions, allowing manipulation of microwave photon dynamics and quantum nondemolition Fock state detection.

Findings

Mechanically driven coherent photon exchange between microwave modes.

Potential for quantum jump detection from ground to excited states.

Feasibility with realistic experimental parameters.

Abstract

The motion of micro- and nanomechanical resonators can be coupled to electromagnetic fields. This allows to explore the mutual interaction and introduces new means to manipulate and control both light and mechanical motion. Such optomechanical systems have recently been implemented in nanoelectromechanical systems involving a nanomechanical beam coupled to a superconducting microwave resonator. Here, we propose optomechanical systems that involve multiple, coupled microwave resonators. In contrast to similar systems in the optical realm, the coupling frequency governing photon exchange between microwave modes is naturally comparable to typical mechanical frequencies. For instance this enables new ways to manipulate the microwave field, such as mechanically driving coherent photon dynamics between different modes. In particular we investigate two setups where the electromagnetic field is coupled either linearly or quadratically to the displacement of a nanomechanical beam. The latter scheme allows to perform QND Fock state detection. For experimentally realistic parameters we predict the possibility to measure an individual quantum jump from the mechanical ground state to the first excited state.