Document Ann. Phys. Fr., Vol. 32, N°2-3 2007, pp. 33-38
DOI: 10.1051/anphys:2008003
Quantum optics with micromirrors
A. Heidmann, O. Arcizet, T. Caniard, C. Molinelli, P. Verlot, T. Briant and P.-F. CohadonLaboratoire Kastler Brossel, UPMC, ENS, CNRS, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
Published online: 23 May 2008
Abstract
Recent progress in high-finesse optical cavities and
micro-mechanical resonators allows one to reach a new regime in
which both mechanical and optical dynamics are governed by the
radiation pressure exerted by light on mirrors. This
optomechanical coupling leads to the existence of fundamental
quantum limits in ultrasensitive interferometric measurements, and
also to very efficient cooling mechanisms of micromirrors. We
experimentally study these effects by monitoring in a very
high-finesse cavity the displacements of a mirror coated on a
micro-resonator. We have in particular observed a self-cooling of
the mirror induced by the intracavity radiation pressure.
Improvements of the experimental setup would open the way to the
optical observation of the quantum ground state of a macroscopic
resonator.
© EDP Sciences 2008