Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a

microcavity

Journal Club Talk

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 1 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Squeezed states

For a quantum mechanical oscillator:

Quantum states with position uncertainty smaller than its zero point
motion.
1
∆2 X < (1)
2
Crucial for quantum enhanced force and inertial sensing schemes.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 2 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Squeezed states: How are they generated?

Reservoir engineering based on two-tone driving

Parametric squeezing
Rapid frequency shifts
Quantum measurements
Mechanical non-linearities.
Quantum transfer from cavity mode to mechanical oscillator.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 3 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

A novel approach for mechanical squeezing

The fast unstable quantum dynamics of a linear optomechanical system is

shown to achieve squeezing.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 4 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

A novel approach for mechanical squeezing

It is shown to be feasible for a levitated nanoparticle coupled to a

microcavity via coherent scattering, achieving squeezing on a
microsecond timescale.
Opens up possibilities for quantum enhanced sensing using levitated
nanoparticles.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 5 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Theoretical framework

Consider a mechanical oscillator of mass m and frequency Ω that is

coupled to an optical cavity mode of frequency ωc that is being driven at
frequency ωt in the red-detuned regime. ∆ ≡ ωc − ωt > 0

Ĥ = ℏ∆↠â + ℏΩb̂† b̂ + ℏg(↠+ â)(b̂† + b̂) (2)

â and b̂ are cavity and mechanical mode bosonic annihilation operators

respectively, and g is optomechanical coupling

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 6 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Theoretical framework

4g 2
For the condition given by ∆Ω > 1, the system is dynamically unstable,
and the Hamiltonian can be expressed in the normal form,
iℏr † 2
Ĥ = ℏω1 ĉ†1 ĉ1 + [(ĉ2 ) − ĉ22 ] (3)
| 2 {z }
squeezing term

where ĉ1 and ĉ2 are bosonic annihilation operators of the normal modes.
ω12 ≡ (ζ 2 + ∆2 + Ω2 )/2, r2 ≡ (ζ 2 − ∆2 − Ω2 )/2, and
ζ 4 ≡ (∆2 − Ω2 )2 + 16∆Ωg 2

The second term describes a squeezing hamiltonian for cˆ2 with a squeezing
rate r.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 7 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Theoretical framework

In the far red detuned regime, ∆ ≫ Ω, the squeezed mode ĉ2 is dominated
by the mechanical mode,
" r #
g † Ω †
lim ĉ2 = −i √ (b̂ + b̂) + i (â − â) (4)
∆/Ω≫1 Ω∆ ∆

This indicates that mechanical squeezing should be dynamically generated

if:
(4g 2 /∆Ω) > 1 (dynamical instability)
∆ ≫ Ω (far red detuning)
g > Ω/2 (ultrastrong coupling)

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 8 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Dynamical Squeezing

For the generalized mechanical quadrature,

√
X̂(θ) ≡ (b̂† eiθ + b̂e−iθ )/ 2 θ ∈ [0, 2π). (5)
Minimum variance is obtained at,

2θsq ≡ arg⟨b̂2 ⟩ (6)

with minimum value given by,

∆2 Xsq ≡ ⟨X̂ 2 (θsq + π/2)⟩ = 1/2 + ⟨b̂† b̂⟩ − |⟨b̂2 ⟩| (7)

Squeezing can be quantified in decibels by S ≡ −10 log10 (2∆2 Xsq )

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 9 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Dynamical Squeezing
The initial state |0⟩ |n̄b ⟩ is evolved using the Hamiltonian in Eq. 2 where
the cavity is in vacuum state and mechanical mode is in the thermal state
with mean phonon number n̄b

It is shown that the variance ∆2 Xsq reaches an asymptotic value

(independent of n̄b ),
1Ω √
lim ∆2 Xsq = ≪1 lim exp[2iθsq ] ≈ −1 + ∆Ω/(2g 2 ) + i ∆Ω/g
tr≫1 2∆ tr≫1
Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk (8)
10 / 20
Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Dynamical Squeezing

Figure: Wigner function of the state at different times

Figure: Squeezing timescale ∆/r as a function of Ω and g

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 11 / 20
Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Effect of Noise

The dynamics of the following master equation is considered,

1 1 Γ
ρ̂˙ = [Ĥ, ρ̂] + κ(âρ̂↠− {↠â, ρ̂}) − [b̂† + b̂, [b̂† + b̂, ρ̂]] (9)
iℏ 2 2

First dissipative term accounts for cavity photon losses at a rate κ

Second dissipative term accounts for white mechanical displacement
noise with decoherence rate given by Γ.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 12 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Effect of Noise

In the far detuned regime the asymptotic variance is given by,

 
r r
Ω  2
lim ∆2 Xsq = 1 + κ ∆ + Γ∆ ∆ (10)
tr≫1 2∆  4g Ω 4g 3 Ω
| {z }
noise induced correction

An optimal value of detuning ∆opt can be found for which variance is

minimized, p
∆opt ≈ g κ/(3Γ) (11)
The conditions for unstable dynamics and far detuning,
p p
g/Ω > κ/(48Γ) g/Ω ≫ 3Γ/κ (12)

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 13 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Effect of Noise

Figure: Asymptotic squeezing at ∆opt as a function of dissipation rates

Generation of strong squeezing is feasible in the presence of cavity losses

and mechanical displacement noises.
Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 14 / 20
Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Feasibility in levitated optomechanics

Figure: Nanoparticle is trapped and levitated using optical tweezers and placed at
a node of an optical cavity

Scattering of photons into free space and into the cavity induces the
dissipative dynamics modelled using the master equation.

Pt : Tweezer power, R: Particle radius, Lc :Cavity Length, f : Cavity finesse

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 15 / 20
Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Feasibility in levitated optomechanics

Pt : Tweezer power, R: Particle radius, Lc :Cavity Length, f : Cavity finesse

1/2
Ω ∝ Pt
1/4
g ∝ Pt R3/2 L−1
c
1/2
Γ ∝ Pt R3
κ ∝ L−1
c f
−1

=⇒ g 2 /(Ω∆opt ) ∝ R3 L−1/2
c f 1/2 (13)

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 16 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Feasibility in levitated optomechanics

Figure: Asymptotic mechanical squeezing S, Optomechanical coupling g, Optimal

detuning ∆opt as a function of cavity length for a silica nanoparticle with radius R
= 100 nm

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 17 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Feasibility in levitated optomechanics

As squeezing occurs at an angle θsq , the spatial extension of the

position probability distribution grows with time.
The dynamics described by the Hamiltonian and Master equation only
hold when the spatial extension is less than cavity wavelength λc
Significant squeezing should occur before the spatial extension
becomes too large.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 18 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

Feasibility in levitated optomechanics

Extension timescale t⋆ is defined as the time such that

[⟨X̂ 2 (θ = 0)ℏ/(mΩ)⟩(t⋆ )]1/2 = 0.1λc

Asymptotic squeezing can be achieved for a wide range of n̄b within the
timescale.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 19 / 20

Introduction Theoretical framework Results Experimental Feasibility

In Summary

Strong mechanical squeezing can be obtained by harnessing the

unstable dynamics of optomechanical systems.
Squeezing is also shown to be achieved under a wide range of
dissipation rates.
These results are feasible for levitated optomechanics like a levitated
nanoparticle coupled with a microcavity.

Mechanical squeezing via unstable dynamics in a microcavity Journal Club Talk 20 / 20