Laser cooling and optical detection of excitations in a LC electrical circuit

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel method using a nanomechanical oscillator as a transducer for laser cooling and optical detection of excitations in an LC electrical circuit, enabling enhanced sensitivity and quantum-limited readout.

Contribution

It introduces a feasible system with strong electro-mechanical coupling for optical detection and laser cooling of electrical circuit excitations, advancing quantum measurement techniques.

Findings

Strong electro-mechanical coupling achieved

Conditions for quantum-limited readout outlined

Potential for improved electrical signal sensitivity

Abstract

We explore a method for laser cooling and optical detection of excitations in a LC electrical circuit. Our approach uses a nanomechanical oscillator as a transducer between optical and electronic excitations. An experimentally feasible system with the oscillator capacitively coupled to the LC and at the same time interacting with light via an optomechanical force is shown to provide strong electro-mechanical coupling. Conditions for improved sensitivity and quantum limited readout of electrical signals with such an "optical loud speaker" are outlined.