Strong parametric coupling between two ultra-coherent membrane modes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method for strong parametric coupling between two ultra-coherent membrane modes using an oscillating voltage, enabling rapid energy exchange and potential applications in quantum control and sensing.

Contribution

The authors introduce a novel approach to achieve parametric coupling between membrane modes via an oscillating voltage applied through a sharp metal tip.

Findings

Modes exchange energy periodically when the voltage oscillation matches the mode frequency difference.

Energy exchange occurs faster than the modes' free energy decay rate.

The method offers potential for rapid state control and transfer in membrane resonators.

Abstract

We demonstrate parametric coupling between two modes of a silicon nitride membrane. We achieve the coupling by applying an oscillating voltage to a sharp metal tip that approaches the membrane surface to within a few 100 nm. When the voltage oscillation frequency is equal to the mode frequency difference, the modes exchange energy periodically and much faster than their free energy decay rate. This flexible method can potentially be useful for rapid state control and transfer between modes, and is an important step towards parametric spin sensing experiments with membrane resonators.