Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object

Chris Whittle; Evan D. Hall; Sheila Dwyer; Nergis Mavalvala; Vivishek Sudhir; R. Abbott; A. Ananyeva; C. Austin; L. Barsotti; J. Betzwieser; C. D. Blair; A. F. Brooks; D. D. Brown; A. Buikema; C. Cahillane; J. C. Driggers; A. Effler; A. Fernandez-Galiana; P. Fritschel; V. V. Frolov; T. Hardwick; M. Kasprzack; K. Kawabe; N. Kijbunchoo; J. S. Kissel; G. L. Mansell; F. Matichard; L. McCuller; T. McRae; A. Mullavey; A. Pele; R. M.S. Schofield; D. Sigg; M. Tse; G. Vajente; D. C. Vander-Hyde; Hang Yu; Haocun Yu; C. Adams; R. X. Adhikari; S. Appert; K. Arai; J. S. Areeda; Y. Asali; S. M. Aston; A. M. Baer; M. Ball; S. W. Ballmer; S. Banagiri; D. Barker; J. Bartlett; B. K. Berger; D. Bhattacharjee; G. Billingsley; S. Biscans; R. M. Blair; N. Bode; P. Booker; R. Bork; A. Bramley; K. C. Cannon; X. Chen; A. A. Ciobanu; F. Clara; C. M. Compton; S. J. Cooper; K. R. Corley; S. T. Countryman; P. B. Covas; D. C. Coyne; L. E.H. Datrier; D. Davis; C. Di Fronzo; K. L. Dooley; P. Dupej; T. Etzel; M. Evans; T. M. Evans; J. Feicht; P. Fulda; M. Fyffe; J. A. Giaime; K. D. Giardina; P. Godwin; E. Goetz; S. Gras; C. Gray; R. Gray; A. C. Green; E. K. Gustafson; R. Gustafson; J. Hanks; J. Hanson; R. K. Hasskew; M. C. Heintze; A. F. Helmling-Cornell; N. A. Holland; J. D. Jones; S. Kandhasamy; S. Karki; P. J. King; Rahul Kumar; M. Landry; B. B. Lane; B. Lantz; M. Laxen; Y. K. Lecoeuche; J. Leviton; J. Liu; M. Lormand; A. P. Lundgren; R. Macas; M. MacInnis; D. M. Macleod; S. Márka; Z. Márka; D. V. Martynov; K. Mason; T. J. Massinger; R. McCarthy; D. E. McClelland; S. McCormick; J. McIver; G. Mendell; K. Merfeld; E. L. Merilh; F. Meylahn; T. Mistry; R. Mittleman; G. Moreno; C. M. Mow-Lowry; S. Mozzon; T. J.N. Nelson; P. Nguyen; L. K. Nuttall; J. Oberling; Richard J. Oram; C. Osthelder; D. J. Ottaway; H. Overmier; J. R. Palamos; W. Parker; E. Payne; R. Penhorwood; C. J. Perez; M. Pirello; H. Radkins; K. E. Ramirez; J. W. Richardson; K. Riles; N. A. Robertson; J. G. Rollins; C. L. Romel; J. H. Romie; M. P. Ross; K. Ryan; T. Sadecki; E. J. Sanchez; L. E. Sanchez; T. R. Saravanan; R. L. Savage; D. Schaetz; R. Schnabel; E. Schwartz; D. Sellers; T. Shaffer; B. J.J. Slagmolen; J. R. Smith; S. Soni; B. Sorazu; A. P. Spencer; K. A. Strain; L. Sun; M. J. Szczepa czyk; M. Thomas; P. Thomas; K. A. Thorne; K. Toland; C. I. Torrie; G. Traylor; A. L. Urban; G. Valdes; P. J. Veitch; K. Venkateswara; G. Venugopalan; A. D. Viets; T. Vo; C. Vorvick; M. Wade; R. L. Ward; J. Warner; B. Weaver; R. Weiss; B. Willke; C. C. Wipf; L. Xiao; H. Yamamoto; L. Zhang; M. E. Zucker; J. Zweizig

doi:10.1126/science.abh2634

Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object

Chris Whittle, Evan D. Hall, Sheila Dwyer, Nergis Mavalvala, Vivishek Sudhir^*, R. Abbott, A. Ananyeva, C. Austin, L. Barsotti, J. Betzwieser, C. D. Blair, A. F. Brooks, D. D. Brown, A. Buikema, C. Cahillane, J. C. Driggers, A. Effler, A. Fernandez-Galiana, P. Fritschel, V. V. FrolovT. Hardwick, M. Kasprzack, K. Kawabe, N. Kijbunchoo, J. S. Kissel, G. L. Mansell, F. Matichard, L. McCuller, T. McRae, A. Mullavey, A. Pele, R. M.S. Schofield, D. Sigg, M. Tse, G. Vajente, D. C. Vander-Hyde, Hang Yu, Haocun Yu, C. Adams, R. X. Adhikari, S. Appert, K. Arai, J. S. Areeda, Y. Asali, S. M. Aston, A. M. Baer, M. Ball, S. W. Ballmer, S. Banagiri, D. Barker, J. Bartlett, B. K. Berger, D. Bhattacharjee, G. Billingsley, S. Biscans, R. M. Blair, N. Bode, P. Booker, R. Bork, A. Bramley, K. C. Cannon, X. Chen, A. A. Ciobanu, F. Clara, C. M. Compton, S. J. Cooper, K. R. Corley, S. T. Countryman, P. B. Covas, D. C. Coyne, L. E.H. Datrier, D. Davis, C. Di Fronzo, K. L. Dooley, P. Dupej, T. Etzel, M. Evans, T. M. Evans, J. Feicht, P. Fulda, M. Fyffe, J. A. Giaime, K. D. Giardina, P. Godwin, E. Goetz, S. Gras, C. Gray, R. Gray, A. C. Green, E. K. Gustafson, R. Gustafson, J. Hanks, J. Hanson, R. K. Hasskew, M. C. Heintze, A. F. Helmling-Cornell, N. A. Holland, J. D. Jones, S. Kandhasamy, S. Karki, P. J. King, Rahul Kumar, M. Landry, B. B. Lane, B. Lantz, M. Laxen, Y. K. Lecoeuche, J. Leviton, J. Liu, M. Lormand, A. P. Lundgren, R. Macas, M. MacInnis, D. M. Macleod, S. Márka, Z. Márka, D. V. Martynov, K. Mason, T. J. Massinger, R. McCarthy, D. E. McClelland, S. McCormick, J. McIver, G. Mendell, K. Merfeld, E. L. Merilh, F. Meylahn, T. Mistry, R. Mittleman, G. Moreno, C. M. Mow-Lowry, S. Mozzon, T. J.N. Nelson, P. Nguyen, L. K. Nuttall, J. Oberling, Richard J. Oram, C. Osthelder, D. J. Ottaway, H. Overmier, J. R. Palamos, W. Parker, E. Payne, R. Penhorwood, C. J. Perez, M. Pirello, H. Radkins, K. E. Ramirez, J. W. Richardson, K. Riles, N. A. Robertson, J. G. Rollins, C. L. Romel, J. H. Romie, M. P. Ross, K. Ryan, T. Sadecki, E. J. Sanchez, L. E. Sanchez, T. R. Saravanan, R. L. Savage, D. Schaetz, R. Schnabel, E. Schwartz, D. Sellers, T. Shaffer, B. J.J. Slagmolen, J. R. Smith, S. Soni, B. Sorazu, A. P. Spencer, K. A. Strain, L. Sun, M. J. Szczepa czyk, M. Thomas, P. Thomas, K. A. Thorne, K. Toland, C. I. Torrie, G. Traylor, A. L. Urban, G. Valdes, P. J. Veitch, K. Venkateswara, G. Venugopalan, A. D. Viets, T. Vo, C. Vorvick, M. Wade, R. L. Ward, J. Warner, B. Weaver, R. Weiss, B. Willke, C. C. Wipf, L. Xiao, H. Yamamoto, L. Zhang, M. E. Zucker, J. Zweizig

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The motion of a mechanical object, even a human-sized object, should be governed by the rules of quantum mechanics. Coaxing them into a quantum state is, however, difficult because the thermal environment masks any quantum signature of the object's motion. The thermal environment also masks the effects of proposed modifications of quantum mechanics at large mass scales. We prepared the center-of-mass motion of a 10-kilogram mechanical oscillator in a state with an average phonon occupation of 10.8. The reduction in temperature, from room temperature to 77 nanokelvin, is commensurate with an 11 orders-of-magnitude suppression of quantum back-action by feedback and a 13 orders-of-magnitude increase in the mass of an object prepared close to its motional ground state. Our approach will enable the possibility of probing gravity on massive quantum systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1333-1336
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	372
Issue number	6548
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abh2634
Publication status	Published - 18 Jun 2021

Access to Document

10.1126/science.abh2634

Cite this

Whittle, C., Hall, E. D., Dwyer, S., Mavalvala, N., Sudhir, V., Abbott, R., Ananyeva, A., Austin, C., Barsotti, L., Betzwieser, J., Blair, C. D., Brooks, A. F., Brown, D. D., Buikema, A., Cahillane, C., Driggers, J. C., Effler, A., Fernandez-Galiana, A., Fritschel, P., ... Zweizig, J. (2021). Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object. Science, 372(6548), 1333-1336. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abh2634

@article{e3fb6046b5464b8282f30a59db86fb81,

title = "Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object",

abstract = "The motion of a mechanical object, even a human-sized object, should be governed by the rules of quantum mechanics. Coaxing them into a quantum state is, however, difficult because the thermal environment masks any quantum signature of the object's motion. The thermal environment also masks the effects of proposed modifications of quantum mechanics at large mass scales. We prepared the center-of-mass motion of a 10-kilogram mechanical oscillator in a state with an average phonon occupation of 10.8. The reduction in temperature, from room temperature to 77 nanokelvin, is commensurate with an 11 orders-of-magnitude suppression of quantum back-action by feedback and a 13 orders-of-magnitude increase in the mass of an object prepared close to its motional ground state. Our approach will enable the possibility of probing gravity on massive quantum systems.",

author = "Chris Whittle and Hall, {Evan D.} and Sheila Dwyer and Nergis Mavalvala and Vivishek Sudhir and R. Abbott and A. Ananyeva and C. Austin and L. Barsotti and J. Betzwieser and Blair, {C. D.} and Brooks, {A. F.} and Brown, {D. D.} and A. Buikema and C. Cahillane and Driggers, {J. C.} and A. Effler and A. Fernandez-Galiana and P. Fritschel and Frolov, {V. V.} and T. Hardwick and M. Kasprzack and K. Kawabe and N. Kijbunchoo and Kissel, {J. S.} and Mansell, {G. L.} and F. Matichard and L. McCuller and T. McRae and A. Mullavey and A. Pele and Schofield, {R. M.S.} and D. Sigg and M. Tse and G. Vajente and Vander-Hyde, {D. C.} and Hang Yu and Haocun Yu and C. Adams and Adhikari, {R. X.} and S. Appert and K. Arai and Areeda, {J. S.} and Y. Asali and Aston, {S. M.} and Baer, {A. M.} and M. Ball and Ballmer, {S. W.} and S. Banagiri and D. Barker and J. Bartlett and Berger, {B. K.} and D. Bhattacharjee and G. Billingsley and S. Biscans and Blair, {R. M.} and N. Bode and P. Booker and R. Bork and A. Bramley and Cannon, {K. C.} and X. Chen and Ciobanu, {A. A.} and F. Clara and Compton, {C. M.} and Cooper, {S. J.} and Corley, {K. R.} and Countryman, {S. T.} and Covas, {P. B.} and Coyne, {D. C.} and Datrier, {L. E.H.} and D. Davis and {Di Fronzo}, C. and Dooley, {K. L.} and P. Dupej and T. Etzel and M. Evans and Evans, {T. M.} and J. Feicht and P. Fulda and M. Fyffe and Giaime, {J. A.} and Giardina, {K. D.} and P. Godwin and E. Goetz and S. Gras and C. Gray and R. Gray and Green, {A. C.} and Gustafson, {E. K.} and R. Gustafson and J. Hanks and J. Hanson and Hasskew, {R. K.} and Heintze, {M. C.} and Helmling-Cornell, {A. F.} and Holland, {N. A.} and Jones, {J. D.} and S. Kandhasamy and S. Karki and King, {P. J.} and Rahul Kumar and M. Landry and Lane, {B. B.} and B. Lantz and M. Laxen and Lecoeuche, {Y. K.} and J. Leviton and J. Liu and M. Lormand and Lundgren, {A. P.} and R. Macas and M. MacInnis and Macleod, {D. M.} and S. M{\'a}rka and Z. M{\'a}rka and Martynov, {D. V.} and K. Mason and Massinger, {T. J.} and R. McCarthy and McClelland, {D. E.} and S. McCormick and J. McIver and G. Mendell and K. Merfeld and Merilh, {E. L.} and F. Meylahn and T. Mistry and R. Mittleman and G. Moreno and Mow-Lowry, {C. M.} and S. Mozzon and Nelson, {T. J.N.} and P. Nguyen and Nuttall, {L. K.} and J. Oberling and Oram, {Richard J.} and C. Osthelder and Ottaway, {D. J.} and H. Overmier and Palamos, {J. R.} and W. Parker and E. Payne and R. Penhorwood and Perez, {C. J.} and M. Pirello and H. Radkins and Ramirez, {K. E.} and Richardson, {J. W.} and K. Riles and Robertson, {N. A.} and Rollins, {J. G.} and Romel, {C. L.} and Romie, {J. H.} and Ross, {M. P.} and K. Ryan and T. Sadecki and Sanchez, {E. J.} and Sanchez, {L. E.} and Saravanan, {T. R.} and Savage, {R. L.} and D. Schaetz and R. Schnabel and E. Schwartz and D. Sellers and T. Shaffer and Slagmolen, {B. J.J.} and Smith, {J. R.} and S. Soni and B. Sorazu and Spencer, {A. P.} and Strain, {K. A.} and L. Sun and {Szczepa czyk}, {M. J.} and M. Thomas and P. Thomas and Thorne, {K. A.} and K. Toland and Torrie, {C. I.} and G. Traylor and Urban, {A. L.} and G. Valdes and Veitch, {P. J.} and K. Venkateswara and G. Venugopalan and Viets, {A. D.} and T. Vo and C. Vorvick and M. Wade and Ward, {R. L.} and J. Warner and B. Weaver and R. Weiss and B. Willke and Wipf, {C. C.} and L. Xiao and H. Yamamoto and L. Zhang and Zucker, {M. E.} and J. Zweizig",

year = "2021",

month = jun,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1126/science.abh2634",

language = "English",

volume = "372",

pages = "1333--1336",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6548",

}

Whittle, C, Hall, ED, Dwyer, S, Mavalvala, N, Sudhir, V, Abbott, R, Ananyeva, A, Austin, C, Barsotti, L, Betzwieser, J, Blair, CD, Brooks, AF, Brown, DD, Buikema, A, Cahillane, C, Driggers, JC, Effler, A, Fernandez-Galiana, A, Fritschel, P, Frolov, VV, Hardwick, T, Kasprzack, M, Kawabe, K, Kijbunchoo, N, Kissel, JS, Mansell, GL, Matichard, F, McCuller, L, McRae, T, Mullavey, A, Pele, A, Schofield, RMS, Sigg, D, Tse, M, Vajente, G, Vander-Hyde, DC, Yu, H, Yu, H, Adams, C, Adhikari, RX, Appert, S, Arai, K, Areeda, JS, Asali, Y, Aston, SM, Baer, AM, Ball, M, Ballmer, SW, Banagiri, S, Barker, D, Bartlett, J, Berger, BK, Bhattacharjee, D, Billingsley, G, Biscans, S, Blair, RM, Bode, N, Booker, P, Bork, R, Bramley, A, Cannon, KC, Chen, X, Ciobanu, AA, Clara, F, Compton, CM, Cooper, SJ, Corley, KR, Countryman, ST, Covas, PB, Coyne, DC, Datrier, LEH, Davis, D, Di Fronzo, C, Dooley, KL, Dupej, P, Etzel, T, Evans, M, Evans, TM, Feicht, J, Fulda, P, Fyffe, M, Giaime, JA, Giardina, KD, Godwin, P, Goetz, E, Gras, S, Gray, C, Gray, R, Green, AC, Gustafson, EK, Gustafson, R, Hanks, J, Hanson, J, Hasskew, RK, Heintze, MC, Helmling-Cornell, AF, Holland, NA, Jones, JD, Kandhasamy, S, Karki, S, King, PJ, Kumar, R, Landry, M, Lane, BB, Lantz, B, Laxen, M, Lecoeuche, YK, Leviton, J, Liu, J, Lormand, M, Lundgren, AP, Macas, R, MacInnis, M, Macleod, DM, Márka, S, Márka, Z, Martynov, DV, Mason, K, Massinger, TJ, McCarthy, R, McClelland, DE, McCormick, S, McIver, J, Mendell, G, Merfeld, K, Merilh, EL, Meylahn, F, Mistry, T, Mittleman, R, Moreno, G, Mow-Lowry, CM, Mozzon, S, Nelson, TJN, Nguyen, P, Nuttall, LK, Oberling, J, Oram, RJ, Osthelder, C, Ottaway, DJ, Overmier, H, Palamos, JR, Parker, W, Payne, E, Penhorwood, R, Perez, CJ, Pirello, M, Radkins, H, Ramirez, KE, Richardson, JW, Riles, K, Robertson, NA, Rollins, JG, Romel, CL, Romie, JH, Ross, MP, Ryan, K, Sadecki, T, Sanchez, EJ, Sanchez, LE, Saravanan, TR, Savage, RL, Schaetz, D, Schnabel, R, Schwartz, E, Sellers, D, Shaffer, T, Slagmolen, BJJ, Smith, JR, Soni, S, Sorazu, B, Spencer, AP, Strain, KA, Sun, L, Szczepa czyk, MJ, Thomas, M, Thomas, P, Thorne, KA, Toland, K, Torrie, CI, Traylor, G, Urban, AL, Valdes, G, Veitch, PJ, Venkateswara, K, Venugopalan, G, Viets, AD, Vo, T, Vorvick, C, Wade, M, Ward, RL, Warner, J, Weaver, B, Weiss, R, Willke, B, Wipf, CC, Xiao, L, Yamamoto, H, Zhang, L, Zucker, ME & Zweizig, J 2021, 'Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object', Science, vol. 372, no. 6548, pp. 1333-1336. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abh2634

TY - JOUR

T1 - Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object

AU - Whittle, Chris

AU - Hall, Evan D.

AU - Dwyer, Sheila

AU - Mavalvala, Nergis

AU - Sudhir, Vivishek

AU - Abbott, R.

AU - Ananyeva, A.

AU - Austin, C.

AU - Barsotti, L.

AU - Betzwieser, J.

AU - Blair, C. D.

AU - Brooks, A. F.

AU - Brown, D. D.

AU - Buikema, A.

AU - Cahillane, C.

AU - Driggers, J. C.

AU - Effler, A.

AU - Fernandez-Galiana, A.

AU - Fritschel, P.

AU - Frolov, V. V.

AU - Hardwick, T.

AU - Kasprzack, M.

AU - Kawabe, K.

AU - Kijbunchoo, N.

AU - Kissel, J. S.

AU - Mansell, G. L.

AU - Matichard, F.

AU - McCuller, L.

AU - McRae, T.

AU - Mullavey, A.

AU - Pele, A.

AU - Schofield, R. M.S.

AU - Sigg, D.

AU - Tse, M.

AU - Vajente, G.

AU - Vander-Hyde, D. C.

AU - Yu, Hang

AU - Yu, Haocun

AU - Adams, C.

AU - Adhikari, R. X.

AU - Appert, S.

AU - Arai, K.

AU - Areeda, J. S.

AU - Asali, Y.

AU - Aston, S. M.

AU - Baer, A. M.

AU - Ball, M.

AU - Ballmer, S. W.

AU - Banagiri, S.

AU - Barker, D.

AU - Bartlett, J.

AU - Berger, B. K.

AU - Bhattacharjee, D.

AU - Billingsley, G.

AU - Biscans, S.

AU - Blair, R. M.

AU - Bode, N.

AU - Booker, P.

AU - Bork, R.

AU - Bramley, A.

AU - Cannon, K. C.

AU - Chen, X.

AU - Ciobanu, A. A.

AU - Clara, F.

AU - Compton, C. M.

AU - Cooper, S. J.

AU - Corley, K. R.

AU - Countryman, S. T.

AU - Covas, P. B.

AU - Coyne, D. C.

AU - Datrier, L. E.H.

AU - Davis, D.

AU - Di Fronzo, C.

AU - Dooley, K. L.

AU - Dupej, P.

AU - Etzel, T.

AU - Evans, M.

AU - Evans, T. M.

AU - Feicht, J.

AU - Fulda, P.

AU - Fyffe, M.

AU - Giaime, J. A.

AU - Giardina, K. D.

AU - Godwin, P.

AU - Goetz, E.

AU - Gras, S.

AU - Gray, C.

AU - Gray, R.

AU - Green, A. C.

AU - Gustafson, E. K.

AU - Gustafson, R.

AU - Hanks, J.

AU - Hanson, J.

AU - Hasskew, R. K.

AU - Heintze, M. C.

AU - Helmling-Cornell, A. F.

AU - Holland, N. A.

AU - Jones, J. D.

AU - Kandhasamy, S.

AU - Karki, S.

AU - King, P. J.

AU - Kumar, Rahul

AU - Landry, M.

AU - Lane, B. B.

AU - Lantz, B.

AU - Laxen, M.

AU - Lecoeuche, Y. K.

AU - Leviton, J.

AU - Liu, J.

AU - Lormand, M.

AU - Lundgren, A. P.

AU - Macas, R.

AU - MacInnis, M.

AU - Macleod, D. M.

AU - Márka, S.

AU - Márka, Z.

AU - Martynov, D. V.

AU - Mason, K.

AU - Massinger, T. J.

AU - McCarthy, R.

AU - McClelland, D. E.

AU - McCormick, S.

AU - McIver, J.

AU - Mendell, G.

AU - Merfeld, K.

AU - Merilh, E. L.

AU - Meylahn, F.

AU - Mistry, T.

AU - Mittleman, R.

AU - Moreno, G.

AU - Mow-Lowry, C. M.

AU - Mozzon, S.

AU - Nelson, T. J.N.

AU - Nguyen, P.

AU - Nuttall, L. K.

AU - Oberling, J.

AU - Oram, Richard J.

AU - Osthelder, C.

AU - Ottaway, D. J.

AU - Overmier, H.

AU - Palamos, J. R.

AU - Parker, W.

AU - Payne, E.

AU - Penhorwood, R.

AU - Perez, C. J.

AU - Pirello, M.

AU - Radkins, H.

AU - Ramirez, K. E.

AU - Richardson, J. W.

AU - Riles, K.

AU - Robertson, N. A.

AU - Rollins, J. G.

AU - Romel, C. L.

AU - Romie, J. H.

AU - Ross, M. P.

AU - Ryan, K.

AU - Sadecki, T.

AU - Sanchez, E. J.

AU - Sanchez, L. E.

AU - Saravanan, T. R.

AU - Savage, R. L.

AU - Schaetz, D.

AU - Schnabel, R.

AU - Schwartz, E.

AU - Sellers, D.

AU - Shaffer, T.

AU - Slagmolen, B. J.J.

AU - Smith, J. R.

AU - Soni, S.

AU - Sorazu, B.

AU - Spencer, A. P.

AU - Strain, K. A.

AU - Sun, L.

AU - Szczepa czyk, M. J.

AU - Thomas, M.

AU - Thomas, P.

AU - Thorne, K. A.

AU - Toland, K.

AU - Torrie, C. I.

AU - Traylor, G.

AU - Urban, A. L.

AU - Valdes, G.

AU - Veitch, P. J.

AU - Venkateswara, K.

AU - Venugopalan, G.

AU - Viets, A. D.

AU - Vo, T.

AU - Vorvick, C.

AU - Wade, M.

AU - Ward, R. L.

AU - Warner, J.

AU - Weaver, B.

AU - Weiss, R.

AU - Willke, B.

AU - Wipf, C. C.

AU - Xiao, L.

AU - Yamamoto, H.

AU - Zhang, L.

AU - Zucker, M. E.

AU - Zweizig, J.

PY - 2021/6/18

Y1 - 2021/6/18

N2 - The motion of a mechanical object, even a human-sized object, should be governed by the rules of quantum mechanics. Coaxing them into a quantum state is, however, difficult because the thermal environment masks any quantum signature of the object's motion. The thermal environment also masks the effects of proposed modifications of quantum mechanics at large mass scales. We prepared the center-of-mass motion of a 10-kilogram mechanical oscillator in a state with an average phonon occupation of 10.8. The reduction in temperature, from room temperature to 77 nanokelvin, is commensurate with an 11 orders-of-magnitude suppression of quantum back-action by feedback and a 13 orders-of-magnitude increase in the mass of an object prepared close to its motional ground state. Our approach will enable the possibility of probing gravity on massive quantum systems.

AB - The motion of a mechanical object, even a human-sized object, should be governed by the rules of quantum mechanics. Coaxing them into a quantum state is, however, difficult because the thermal environment masks any quantum signature of the object's motion. The thermal environment also masks the effects of proposed modifications of quantum mechanics at large mass scales. We prepared the center-of-mass motion of a 10-kilogram mechanical oscillator in a state with an average phonon occupation of 10.8. The reduction in temperature, from room temperature to 77 nanokelvin, is commensurate with an 11 orders-of-magnitude suppression of quantum back-action by feedback and a 13 orders-of-magnitude increase in the mass of an object prepared close to its motional ground state. Our approach will enable the possibility of probing gravity on massive quantum systems.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108169579&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/science.abh2634

DO - 10.1126/science.abh2634

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 372

SP - 1333

EP - 1336

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6548

ER -

Approaching the motional ground state of a 10-kg object

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