Optimal state estimation for cavity optomechanical systems

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of Kalman filtering for optimal state estimation in cavity optomechanical systems, accounting for realistic noise sources to enable precise real-time control.

Contribution

It introduces a realistic state-space model incorporating experimental noise, enabling optimal estimation of mechanical states and correlations in optomechanical systems.

Findings

Effective Kalman filtering reduces estimation error.

Applicable in both weak and strong coupling regimes.

Facilitates real-time control of optomechanical systems.

Abstract

We demonstrate optimal state estimation for a cavity optomechanical system through Kalman filtering. By taking into account nontrivial experimental noise sources, such as colored laser noise and spurious mechanical modes, we implement a realistic state-space model. This allows us to obtain the conditional system state, i.e., conditioned on previous measurements, with minimal least-square estimation error. We apply this method for estimating the mechanical state, as well as optomechanical correlations both in the weak and strong coupling regime. The application of the Kalman filter is an important next step for achieving real-time optimal (classical and quantum) control of cavity optomechanical systems.