Ro’aa Alkhawaja L&S Math & Physical Sciences
Quantum Optomechanics for Macroscopic Quantum States
“Human intuition breaks down in the quantum regime. On quantum scales, systems that once behaved deterministically become probabilistic, introducing fundamental uncertainties in measurement and uniquely quantum sources of noise. This project focuses on the development of quantum optomechanical systems to explore macroscopic quantum states, advancing our understanding of fundamental physics and paving the way for new technologies. It applies quantum measurement and control techniques to solid-state objects, offering opportunities to work with levitated superconducting systems and optically trapped sub-micron particles. The research uses quantum feedback protocols and cavity optomechanics to probe foundational questions at the intersection of quantum physics and gravity through precision table-top experiments. By integrating methods from quantum optics, atomic physics, and control theory, this work builds a critical bridge between theoretical predictions and experimental validation, aiming to reveal new insights into quantum behavior in macroscopic regimes.
This project is in collaboration with the Aspelmeyer Group at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI).”
Message To Sponsor
I am sincerely grateful to my SURF sponsor for funding my summer research. Through your generosity, I will be able to work in a state of the art lab to advance the frontiers of quantum measurement. Research like this will do so much to enrich my undergraduate experience as an aspiring physicist, and will surely solidify my pursuit of higher-education in this wonderful and exciting field. Thank you again!