Abstract:
While the validity of superposition principle is routinely validated for microscopic systems, it is still unclear why we do not observe macroscopic objects to be in superpositions of states that can be distinguished by some classical property. In our experiments we demonstrate the preparation of a mechanical resonator with an effective mass of 16 micrograms in Schrödinger cat states of motion, where the constituent atoms oscillate in a superposition of two opposite phases. In my talk, I will start describing the bulk acoustic wave resonator device used in our experiments, and the circuit quantum acoustodynamics toolbox we have developed. These allow us to demonstrate the preparation and detection of mechanical Schrödinger cat states with different amplitudes and phases. Moreover, we investigate the decoherence dynamics of such states by observing the disappearance of Wigner negativities. Our results can find applications in continuous variable quantum information processing and in fundamental investigations of quantum mechanics in massive systems.
Biography:
Dr. Fadel studied physics in Padova (Italy) and ETH Zurich. After completing his PhD in Basel in the group of Philipp Treutlein, he was visiting researcher at Peking university. Currently, her is a Branco Weiss Fellow at ETH Zurich, where he investigates mechanical resonators in the quantum regime.
Seminar by the NYU-ECNU Institute of Physics at NYU Shanghai