A levitated nanoparticle as a classical two-level atom
Optics
2017-06-28 v1 Quantum Physics
Abstract
The center-of-mass motion of a single optically levitated nanoparticle resembles three uncoupled harmonic oscillators. We show how a suitable modulation of the optical trapping potential can give rise to a coupling between two of these oscillators, such that their dynamics are governed by a classical equation of motion that resembles the Schr\"odinger equation for a two-level system. Based on experimental data, we illustrate the dynamics of this parametrically coupled system both in the frequency and in the time domain. We discuss the limitations and differences of the mechanical analogue in comparison to a true quantum mechanical system.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1704.02289,
title = {A levitated nanoparticle as a classical two-level atom},
author = {Martin Frimmer and Jan Gieseler and Thomas Ihn and Lukas Novotny},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1704.02289},
year = {2017}
}