Nonlinear interaction between light and mechanical motion for quantum optics and quantum sensing experiments

Project funded by Swedish Research Council (Project grant), grant 2019-04946_VR. Participating organisations named by the source: Chalmers University of Technology. Funded amount: SEK 3,200,000, as stated by the source. Runs 2020-01-01 to 2023-12-31. Keywords: Naturvetenskap, Natural Sciences, Fysik, Physical Sciences, Atom- och molekylfysik och optik, Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics. Source: OpenAIRE Graph, from the funder's project data (collected by OpenAIRE on 2025-12-05); national funding data, not CORDIS. Abstract given by the source: Mechanical resonators are recently explored as novel solid-state based quantum devices. A leading platform are cavity optomechanical devices, which use light to control mechanical motion. However, a major challenge remains accessing the optomechanical nonlinearity on the level of single quanta.The purpose of this project is to go beyond state-of-the-art by reaching this nonlinear regime and to use it for generating nonclassical states, such as single phonon states, without resorting to post-selection. The nonlinear regime allows us to explore novel capabilities for mechanical-based sensing, such as nondestructive detection of single photons, and for quantum heat engines exploiting nonclassical mechanical states as resource.We will base our project on multi-element optomechanics, whereby light is coupled to an array of mechanical resonators. Concentration of the light field in the array has been suggested to reach the nonlinear regime. However, a roadblock so far has been the stringent requirement on fabricating a mechanical array that simultaneously exhibits high reflectivity and nanometer-precise spacing and thickness control. We pursue a novel approach that relies on AlGaAs heterostructures that allows us to realize all key requirements for multi-element optomechanics in an integrated device exploiting bottom-up material growth and top-down microfabrication.Our project will break new ground by accessing the full potential of optomechanical devices in the quantum regime.

Original source.

Source: OpenAIRE Graph: projects of national funders, OpenAIRE, from the project data of Swedish Research Council. Retrieved 2026-10-22. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (OpenAIRE Graph). Selected metadata, adapted presentation; the publisher's record is authoritative. No endorsement by the source is implied. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

AI-assisted summary: The project, funded by the Swedish Research Council with SEK 3,200,000, runs from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, at Chalmers University of Technology. It aims to explore nonlinear interactions between light and mechanical motion for advanced quantum sensing. Suggested technology pillar: sensing. Generated by AI from the public source text; it may contain errors and the original source is authoritative.