Harnessing vacuum forces for quantum sensing of graphene motion

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel quantum sensing method for graphene motion using vacuum-induced shifts in a quantum emitter, enabling precise, non-invasive position measurements and quantum squeezing.

Contribution

The work presents a new detection scheme leveraging vacuum forces for quantum sensing of graphene, overcoming limitations of optical methods.

Findings

Enables quantum squeezing of graphene position

Uses dispersive vacuum interactions for detection

Achieves strong, rapid position readout

Abstract

Position measurements at the quantum level are vital for many applications, but also challenging. Typically, methods based on optical phase shifts are used, but these methods are often weak and difficult to apply to many materials. An important example is graphene, which is an excellent mechanical resonator due to its small mass and an outstanding platform for nanotechnologies, but is largely transparent. Here, we present a novel detection scheme based upon the strong, dispersive vacuum interactions between a graphene sheet and a quantum emitter. In particular, the mechanical displacement causes strong changes in the vacuum-induced shifts of the transition frequency of the emitter, which can be read out via optical fields. We show that this enables strong quantum squeezing of the graphene position on time scales short compared to the mechanical period.