Non-classical correlations between single photons and phonons from a mechanical oscillator

Autor(en)

Ralf Riedinger, Sungkun Hong, Richard A. Norte, Joshua A. Slater, Juying Shang, Alexander G. Krause, Vikas Anant, Markus Aspelmeyer, Simon Groblacher

Abstrakt

Interfacing a single photon with another quantum system is a key capability in modern quantum information science. It allows quantum states of matter, such as spin states of atoms, atomic ensembles or solids, to be prepared and manipulated by photon counting and, in particular, to be distributed over long distances. Such light-matter interfaces have become crucial to fundamental tests of quantum physics and realizations of quantum networks. Here we report non-classical correlations between single photons and phonons-the quanta of mechanical motion-from a nanomechanical resonator. We implement a full quantum protocol involving initialization of the resonator in its quantum ground state of motion and subsequent generation and read-out of correlated photon-phonon pairs. The observed violation of a Cauchy Schwarz inequality is clear evidence for the non-classical nature of the mechanical state generated. Our results demonstrate the availability of on-chip solid-state mechanical resonators as light-matter quantum interfaces. The performance we achieved will enable studies of macroscopic quantum phenomena as well as applications in quantum communication, as quantum memories and as quantum transducers.

Organisation(en)

Quantenoptik, Quantennanophysik und Quanteninformation

Externe Organisation(en)

Delft University of Technology, Photon Spot Inc

Journal

Nature

Band

530

Seiten

313-316

Anzahl der Seiten

4

ISSN

0028-0836

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16536

Publikationsdatum

02-2016

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103026 Quantenoptik

Schlagwörter

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/88a80c3c-9a49-4ba7-89a9-8d371971aee3