arXiv · 2602.08981
Cascaded Optomechanical Sensing for Small Signals
Abstract
We propose a sensing scheme for detecting weak forces that achieves Heisenberg-limited sensitivity without relying on entanglement or other non-classical resources. Our scheme utilizes coherent averaging across a chain of N optomechanical cavities, unidirectionally coupled via a laser beam. As the beam passes through the cavities, it accumulates phase shifts induced by a common external force acting on the mechanical elements. Remarkably, this fully classical approach achieves the sensitivity scaling typically associated with quantum-enhanced protocols, providing a robust and experimentally feasible route to precision sensing. Potential applications range from high-sensitivity gravitational field measurements at the Large Hadron Collider to probing dark matter interactions and detecting gravitational waves. This work opens a new pathway for leveraging coherent light-matter interactions for force sensing.
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Marta Maria Marchese, Daniel Braun, Stefan Nimmrichter, Dennis Rätzel. 2026-02-09. Cascaded Optomechanical Sensing for Small Signals. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2Fae8b16
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