An ultra-low dissipation micro-oscillator for quantum opto-mechanics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a micro-oscillator with ultra-low dissipation and high quality factor, enabling quantum opto-mechanics experiments by overcoming thermal noise with radiation-pressure quantum fluctuations at cryogenic temperatures.

Contribution

The authors present a novel micro-oscillator design achieving a high mechanical quality factor and finesse, significantly reducing thermal noise for quantum opto-mechanical applications.

Findings

Mechanical quality factor Q = 2.6x10^6 at 4 K

Finesse of 65000 achieved

Quantum fluctuations dominate thermal noise at low temperature

Abstract

Generating non-classical states of light by opto-mechanical coupling depends critically on the mechanical and optical properties of micro-oscillators and on the minimization of thermal noise. We present an oscillating micro-mirror with a mechanical quality factor Q = 2.6x10^6 at cryogenic temperature and a Finesse of 65000, obtained thanks to an innovative approach to the design and the control of mechanical dissipation. Already at 4 K with an input laser power of 2 mW, the radiation-pressure quantum fluctuations become the main noise source, overcoming thermal noise. This feature makes our devices particularly suitable for the production of pondero-motive squeezing.