Quantum squeezing of a levitated nanomechanical oscillator

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kamba, M., Hara, N., Aikawa, K.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Kamba, M.
Hara, N.
Aikawa, K.
author_facet Kamba, M.
Hara, N.
Aikawa, K.
contents Manipulating the motions of macroscopic objects near their quantum mechanical uncertainties has been desired in diverse fields, including fundamental physics, sensing, and transducers. Despite significant progresses in ground-state cooling of a levitated solid particle, realizing non-classical states of its motion has been elusive. Here, we demonstrate quantum squeezing of the motion of a single nanoparticle by rapidly varying its oscillation frequency. We reveal significant narrowing of the velocity variance to $-4.9(1)$~dB of that of the ground state via free-expansion measurements. To quantitatively confirm our finding, we develop a method to accurately measure the displacement of the nanoparticle by referencing an optical standing wave. Our work shows that a levitated nanoparticle offers an ideal platform for studying non-classical states of its motion and paves the way for its applications in quantum sensing, as well as for exploring quantum mechanics at a macroscopic scale.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_17944
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Quantum squeezing of a levitated nanomechanical oscillator
Kamba, M.
Hara, N.
Aikawa, K.
Quantum Physics
Optics
Manipulating the motions of macroscopic objects near their quantum mechanical uncertainties has been desired in diverse fields, including fundamental physics, sensing, and transducers. Despite significant progresses in ground-state cooling of a levitated solid particle, realizing non-classical states of its motion has been elusive. Here, we demonstrate quantum squeezing of the motion of a single nanoparticle by rapidly varying its oscillation frequency. We reveal significant narrowing of the velocity variance to $-4.9(1)$~dB of that of the ground state via free-expansion measurements. To quantitatively confirm our finding, we develop a method to accurately measure the displacement of the nanoparticle by referencing an optical standing wave. Our work shows that a levitated nanoparticle offers an ideal platform for studying non-classical states of its motion and paves the way for its applications in quantum sensing, as well as for exploring quantum mechanics at a macroscopic scale.
title Quantum squeezing of a levitated nanomechanical oscillator
topic Quantum Physics
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.17944