Single phonon quantum acoustics
Abstract
We will explore the interactions between light and sound at the quantum level. To accomplish this, we will develop a new type of “optoacoustic” device that unites the remarkable properties of superfluid helium with state-of-the-art optical instruments. We will use these devices to measure individual phonons (particles of sound) and the individual photons (particles of light) with which they interact. More importantly, we will use the photons to control the phonons, and vice versa. This type of control (using individual particles of one kind to control particles of another kind) represents a frontier in our understanding of quantum physics, both in terms of its foundations and its potential application in new technologies. We will build devices that each consist of a mm-scale volume of superfluid surrounded by mirrors that reflect both light and sound waves. This will result in strong overlap between the phonons and photons in the superfluid. Because superfluid offers the lowest optical and acoustic absorption of any material, the devices’ phonons will survive for roughly one second before being lost. This is very long for any quantum state, particularly since during this time these phonons can be monitored and controlled with great precision by the photons. We will use this combination of precise control, sensitive detection, and long-lived quantum states to explore some of the most counterintuitive (and powerful) quantum effects, including entanglement and nonlocality. We will study these effects in the motion of objects whose mass is well above a nanogram, an unprecedentedly macroscopic scale for such quantum effects. Lastly, these devices will be built from the same kind of optical fibers that form the backbone of modern telecommunications networks. Together with the devices’ simple design, small footprint, and tunability, this will enable them to interact with each other over kilometer-scale distances, with potential impact on quantum communication technology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 21, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95502110152XX0
Entities
People
- Jack Harris
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- Yale University