Classical Pendulum Feels Quantum Back-Action (eBook)

Supervisor's Foreword 7
Acknowledgments 9
Contents 11
1 Introduction 13
1.1 Optomechanical Effects 13
1.1.1 Quantum Noise Limit 17
1.2 Observation of Quantum Back-Action 19
References 20
2 Theory of Optomechanics 24
2.1 Optical System 24
2.1.1 The Quantized Electromagnetic Field 24
2.1.2 The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle 26
2.1.3 States of Light 26
2.1.4 Optical Cavity 28
2.2 Mechanical Oscillator 31
2.2.1 Mechanical Normal Modes 32
2.2.2 Mechanical Dissipation & Dilution Techniques
2.3 Optomechanical System 37
2.3.1 Theoretical Derivation of Quantum Back-Action 37
2.3.2 Phase-Induced Radiation Pressure 42
2.3.3 Photo-Thermal Shot Noise 44
2.3.4 Raman Decoherence 44
References 45
3 Application of Optomechanics 47
3.1 Towards Gravitational Wave Astronomy 47
3.1.1 Background of This Section 49
3.1.2 Back-Action Evasion Method 49
3.2 Test of Quantum Mechanics 50
3.2.1 Direct Test of Interference of a Massive Pendulum Via Single-Photon Coupling 52
3.2.2 Test of Gravity-Induced Decoherece Models by Linear Continuous Measurement 54
3.2.3 Test of Spontaneous Wave-Function Collapse Models Using a Classical Pendulum 55
References 57
4 Optical Torsional Spring 60
4.1 Trade-Off Relationship 60
4.2 Model of a Triangular Optical Cavity 63
4.3 Experimental Setup 64
4.4 Experimental Results & Discussions
References 68
5 Experimental Setup 69
5.1 All Aspects of the Experiment 69
5.2 Partial Aspects of the Experiment 74
5.2.1 Mechanical Oscillator 74
5.2.2 Laser Source 76
5.2.3 Calibration 77
5.2.4 Detection System and Vacuum System 85
References 86
6 Experimental Results 88
6.1 Optical Characterization 88
6.2 Mechanical Characterization 90
6.3 Optomechanical Characterization 93
6.4 Measurement of the Back-Action and Discussions 94
References 98
7 The Future 100
7.1 Future Improvement 100
7.2 Towards Ground-State Cooling 101
7.3 Towards Beating the SQL 102
References 103
8 Conclusions 104
Appendix A Intensity Stabilization 106
Curriculum Vitae 110