%0 Journal Article
%T Pulsed quantum optomechanics
%A M. R. Vanner
%A I. Pikovski
%A G. D. Cole
%A M. S. Kim
%A C. Brukner
%A K. Hammerer
%A G. J. Milburn
%A M. Aspelmeyer
%J Physics
%D 2010
%I arXiv
%R 10.1073/pnas.1105098108
%X Studying mechanical resonators via radiation pressure offers a rich avenue for the exploration of quantum mechanical behavior in a macroscopic regime. However, quantum state preparation and especially quantum state reconstruction of mechanical oscillators remains a significant challenge. Here we propose a scheme to realize quantum state tomography, squeezing and state purification of a mechanical resonator using short optical pulses. The scheme presented allows observation of mechanical quantum features despite preparation from a thermal state and is shown to be experimentally feasible using optical microcavities. Our framework thus provides a promising means to explore the quantum nature of massive mechanical oscillators and can be applied to other systems such as trapped ions.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1011.0879v2