Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type de stage
Expérimental Description
Optomechanics, the interaction between light and mechanical oscillators, is a burgeoning field
of research at the interface of quantum optics, mesoscopic physics and mechanical micro/nano
systems. Using light, it has recently been possible to control and read-out the quantum states of
mesoscopic mechanical resonators. This has been notably achieved with nano-optomechanical
disk resonators (see image below) fabricated in our team, where the simultaneous
confinement of light and mechanical motion in a sub-micron volume enables strong
optomechanical interaction. The implications of such developments in the field of
quantum sensing remain now to be explored.
This PhD project aims to bring mechanical scanning probes into the experimental quantum
domain using optomechanics. Quantum theory postulates indeed that energy exchanges
between physical systems take place with a certain granularity, in quantities that are multiples
of an energy quantum. This quantum regime of interactions has never been illustrated by local
mechanical measurements, such as those made with an atomic force microscope (AFM).
Detecting the exchange of a single quantum of energy between a physical system and
mechanical force probe represents the ultimate level of sensitivity allowed by microscopic
laws, and is therefore a considerable scientific and technological stake for sensing
applications of optomechanics.
Contact
Adrien Borne