Driving a mechanical resonator in to coherent states via random measurements

TL;DR

This paper introduces probabilistic schemes using repeated measurements on a flux qubit to generate coherent states in a mechanical resonator, with potential for experimental implementation.

Contribution

It presents novel dynamical protocols leveraging measurement-induced state preparation to engineer coherent states in mechanical resonators.

Findings

Coherent states can be generated probabilistically via repeated qubit measurements.

A one-time operation can extend the displacement parameter range.

Experimental feasibility of the schemes is discussed.

Abstract

We propose dynamical schemes to engineer coherent states of a mechanical resonator coupled to an ancillary, superconducting flux qubit. The flux qubit, when repeatedly projected on to its ground state drives the mechanical resonator in to a coherent state in probabilistic, albeit heralded fashion. Assuming no operations on the state of the mechanical resonator during the protocol, coherent states are successfully generated only up to a certain value of the displacement parameter. This restriction can be overcome at the cost of a one-time operation on the initial state of the mechanical resonator. We discuss the possibility of experimental realization of the presented schemes.