Speaker
Jack Harris
(Yale)
Description
Objects that are levitated in vacuum and coupled to an optical cavity have been used as high-performance optomechanical systems in a number of experiments. However, levitated objects are difficult to cool cryogenically and are highly susceptible to external heat loads. Here we show that a levitated drop of superfluid helium can serve as an optomechanical system that maintains sub-Kelvin internal temperature and noise temperature, even when illuminated by milliWatt-scale laser beams. The radiation pressure coupling between the drop's optical whispering gallery modes and its surface is demonstrated via the optical spring effect.