Non-Gaussian Mechanical Motion via Single and Multiphonon Subtraction from a Thermal State
G. Enzian, L. Freisem, J. J. Price, A. Ø. Svela, J. Clarke, B. Shajilal, J. Janousek, B. C. Buchler, P. K. Lam, M. R. Vanner
Abstract
Quantum optical measurement techniques offer a rich avenue for quantum control of mechanical oscillators via cavity optomechanics. In particular, a powerful yet little explored combination utilizes optical measurements to perform heralded non-Gaussian mechanical state preparation followed by tomography to determine the mechanical phase-space distribution. Here, we experimentally perform heralded single-phonon and multiphonon subtraction via photon counting to a laser-cooled mechanical thermal state with a Brillouin optomechanical system at room temperature and use optical heterodyne detection to measure the s-parametrized Wigner distribution of the non-Gaussian mechanical states generated. The techniques developed here advance the state of the art for optics-based tomography of mechanical states and will be useful for a broad range of applied and fundamental studies that utilize mechanical quantum-state engineering and tomography.