Mechanical cat states in graphene resonators

TL;DR

This paper explores how to generate quantum superpositions, including cat states, in graphene nanomechanical resonators by exploiting nonlinear dynamics and controlled voltage pulses.

Contribution

It demonstrates the creation of cat-like superpositions in graphene resonators using analytical and numerical methods, highlighting nonlinear effects at quantum scales.

Findings

Successful generation of cat-like superpositions in graphene resonators.

Nonlinear response is significant at amplitudes near zero-point fluctuations.

Voltage pulses enable selective actuation and manipulation of vibrational modes.

Abstract

We study the quantum dynamics of a symmetric nanomechanical graphene resonator with degenerate flexural modes. Applying voltage pulses to two back gates, flexural vibrations of the membrane can be selectively actuated and manipulated. For graphene, nonlinear response becomes important already for amplitudes comparable to the magnitude of zero point fluctuations. We show, using analytical and numerical methods, that this allows for creation of cat-like superpositions of coherent states as well as superpositions of coherent cat-like non-product states.