Towards cavity-free ground state cooling of an acoustic-frequency silicon nitride membrane

Abstract

We demonstrate feedback cooling of a millimeter-scale, 40 kHz SiN membrane from room temperature to 5 mK (3000 phonons) using a Michelson interferometer, and discuss the challenges to ground state cooling without an optical cavity. This advance appears within reach of current membrane technology, positioning it as a compelling alternative to levitated systems for quantum sensing and fundamental weak force measurements.

To be published in the Applied Optics special issue: James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences

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