arXiv subjects

Seth B. Cataño-Lopez

Publications and source records attributed to Seth B. Cataño-Lopez.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Ion-Beam-Sputtered Mid-Infrared Coatings for Hybrid Supermirrors

We report on the development of low-loss ion-beam-sputtered (IBS) mid-infrared coatings for hybrid supermirrors. Two highly reflective designs were realized: HR1, a 4-period a-Si/SiO$_2$ DBR with an Al$_2$O$_3$ bonding layer, and HR2, a 6-period a-Si/Ta$_2$O$_5$ DBR with an a-Si terminating layer for bonding. Combined with a GaAs/AlGaAs crystalline mirror, HR2-based hybrids yielded a total loss of 9.3 ppm and excess loss of 6.8 ppm at 4.45 $μ$m, with cavity finesse up to 396000. For the first time, we used IBS-deposited a-Si directly as a bonding layer, verified its sub-angstrom roughness, and demonstrated excellent performance. This establishes a clear path toward scalable coatings for longer mid-infrared wavelengths, building on prior results in Nat. Commun. 14, 7846 (2023).

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

High Q mg-scale monolithic pendulum for quantum-limited gravity measurements

We present the development of a high $Q$ monolithic silica pendulum weighing 7 mg. The measured $Q$ value for the pendulum mode at 2.2 Hz was $2.0\times10^6$. To the best of our knowledge this is the lowest dissipative mg-scale mechanical oscillator to date. By employing this suspension system, the optomechanical displacement sensor for gravity measurements we recently reported in Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 071101 (2019) can be improved to realize quantum-noise-limited sensing at several hundred Hz. In combination with the optical spring effect, the amount of intrinsic dissipation measured in the pendulum mode is enough to satisfy requirements for measurement-based quantum control of a massive pendulum confined in an optical potential. This paves the way for not only testing dark matter via quantum-limited force sensors, but also Newtonian interaction in quantum regimes, namely, between two mg-scale oscillators in quantum states, as well as improving the sensitivity of gravitational-wave detectors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Demonstration of displacement sensing of a mg-scale pendulum for mm- and mg- scale gravity measurements

Gravity generated by large masses has been observed using a variety of probes from atomic interferometers to torsional balances. However, gravitational coupling between small masses has never been observed so far. Here, we demonstrate sensitive displacement sensing of the Brownian motion of an optically trapped 7-mg pendulum motion whose natural quality factor is increased to $10^8$ through dissipation dilution. The sensitivity for an integration time of one second corresponds to the displacement generated by the gravitational coupling between the probe and a mm separated 100 mg mass, whose position is modulated at the pendulum mechanical resonant frequency. Development of such a sensitive displacement sensor using a mg-scale device will pave the way for a new class of experiments where gravitational coupling between small masses in quantum regimes can be achieved.

quant-ph↗