Quantum electromechanics with levitated nanoparticles

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to create and observe quantum states in levitated nanoparticles by coupling their motion with superconducting qubits, enabling new quantum technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to induce discrete quantum states in nanoparticles through coherent interfacing with superconducting qubits.

Findings

Charged nanoparticles can be endowed with discrete energy levels.

A pulsed scheme for generating and reading out quantum superpositions is proposed.

Potential for networked hybrid quantum devices using levitated nanoparticles.

Abstract

Preparing and observing quantum states of nanoscale particles is a challenging task with great relevance for quantum technologies and tests of fundamental physics. In contrast to atomic systems with discrete transitions, nanoparticles exhibit a practically continuous absorption spectrum and thus their quantum dynamics cannot be easily manipulated. Here, we demonstrate that charged nanoscale dielectrics can be artificially endowed with a discrete level structure by coherently interfacing their rotational and translational motion with a superconducting qubit. We propose a pulsed scheme for the generation and read-out of motional quantum superpositions and entanglement between several levitated nanoparticles, providing an all-electric platform for networked hybrid quantum devices.