Imprinting interference fringes in massive optomechanical systems

Abstract

An interferometric scheme for the creation of momentum superposition states of mechanical oscillators using a quantum mirror kicked by free photons is analyzed. The scheme features ultrafast preparation with immediate detection and should allow for the observation of signatures of momentum superpositions in a massive macroscopic system at nonzero temperatures. It is robust against thermalized initial states, displacement and movement, mirror imperfections, and the measurements' back-actions.