Single-photon quantum regime of artificial radiation pressure on a surface acoustic wave resonator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a significant advancement in quantum optomechanics by artificially realizing the radiation pressure of microwave photons on phonons in a surface acoustic wave resonator, enabling exploration of the single-photon quantum regime.

Contribution

The work introduces a novel artificial radiation pressure interaction using a superconducting circuit with enhanced nonlinearity, reaching the single-photon quantum regime in cavity optomechanics.

Findings

Enhanced interaction strength by an order of magnitude.

Realization of artificial radiation pressure on phonons.

Potential for quantum information applications.

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields carry momentum, which upon reflection on matter gives rise to the radiation pressure of photons. The radiation pressure has recently been utilized in cavity optomechanics for controlling mechanical motions of macroscopic objects at the quantum limit. However, because of the weakness of the interaction, attempts so far had to use a strong coherent drive to reach the quantum limit Therefore, the single-photon quantum regime, where even the presence of a totally off-resonant single photon alters the quantum state of the mechanical mode significantly, is one of the next milestones in cavity optomechanics. Here we demonstrate an artificial realization of the radiation pressure of microwave photons acting on phonons in a surface acoustic wave resonator. The order-of-magnitude enhancement of the interaction strength originates in the well-tailored strong second-order nonlinearity of a superconducting Josephson-junction circuit. The synthetic radiation pressure interaction adds a key element to the quantum optomechanical toolbox and can be applied to quantum information interfaces between electromagnetic and mechanical degrees of freedom.