Mechanical backreaction effect of the dynamical Casimir emission

Butera, S. and Carusotto, I. (2019) Mechanical backreaction effect of the dynamical Casimir emission. Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 99(5), 053815. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.99.053815)

Abstract

We consider an optical cavity enclosed by a freely moving mirror attached to a spring and we study the quantum friction effect exerted by the dynamical Casimir emission on the mechanical motion of the mirror. Observable signatures of this simplest example of backreaction effect are studied in both the ring-down oscillations of the mirror motion and in its steady-state motion under a monochromatic force. Analytical expressions are found in simple yet relevant cases and compared to complete numerical solution of the master equation. In order to overcome the experimental difficulties posed by the weakness of the backreaction effect in current setups, a promising circuit-QED device allowing for the observation of an analog backreaction effect with state-of-the-art technology is proposed and theoretically characterized.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by Julian Schwinger foundation, Grant No. JSF-16-12-0001. Funding from Provincia Autonoma di Trento and from the EU-FET-Open Grant MIR-BOSE Project No.737017 is also acknowledged.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Butera, Dr Salvatore
• Authors: Butera, S., and Carusotto, I.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 1050-2947
• ISSN (Online): 1094-1622
• Published Online: 13 May 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 99(5):053815
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher