{
  "id": "0908.1415",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2009-08-10T21:55:45.000Z",
  "updated": "2009-08-10T21:55:45.000Z",
  "title": "Measuring the quantum state of a nanomechanical oscillator",
  "authors": [
    "Swati Singh",
    "Pierre Meystre"
  ],
  "comment": "4 pages, 2 figures",
  "categories": [
    "quant-ph"
  ],
  "abstract": "We propose a scheme to measure the quantum state of a nanomechanical oscillator cooled near its ground state of vibrational motion. This is an extension of the nonlinear atomic homodyning technique scheme first developed to measure the intracavity field in a micromaser. It involves the use of a detector-atom that is simultaneously coupled to the cantilever via a magnetic interaction and to (classical) optical fields via a Raman transition. We show that the probability for the atom to be found in the excited state is a direct measure of the Wigner characteristic function of the nanomechanical oscillator. We also investigate the backaction effect of this destructive measurement on the state of the cantilever.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2009-08-10T21:55:45.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "nanomechanical oscillator",
      "quantum state",
      "atomic homodyning technique scheme first",
      "nonlinear atomic homodyning technique scheme"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 4,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "adsabs": "2009arXiv0908.1415S"
    }
  }
}