March 18, 2020 Journal article Open Access

Position- and momentum-squeezed quantum states in micro-scale mechanical resonators

Le Coq, Yann; Moelmer, Klaus; Seidelin, Signe

A challenge of modern physics is to investigate the quantum behavior of a bulk material object, for instance a mechanical oscillator. We have earlier demonstrated that by coupling a mechanical oscillator to the energy levels of embedded rare-earth ion dopants, it is possible to prepare such a resonator in a low phonon number state. Here, we describe how to extend this protocol in order to prepare momentum- and position-squeezed states, and we analyze how the obtainable degree of squeezing depends on the initial conditions and on the coupling of the oscillator to its thermal environment.