Journal Article
Observation of Quantum Motion of a Nanomechanical Resonator
| In this Letter we use resolved sideband laser cooling to cool a mesoscopic mechanical resonator to near its quantum ground state (phonon occupancy 2.6 + 0.2), and observe the motional sidebands generated on a second probe laser. Asymmetry in the sideband amplitudes provides a direct measure of the displacement noise power associated with quantum zero-point fluctuations of the nanomechanical resonator, and allows for an intrinsic calibration of the phonon occupation number. |
Journal Name
Phys. Rev. Lett.
Publication Date
January, 2012
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.033602