Brillouin optomechanics: From strong coupling to single-phonon-level operations

Backward Brillouin scattering in whispering-gallery-mode micro-resonators offers an exciting avenue to pursue both classical and quantum optomechanics applications. Our team-the Quantum Measurement Lab-together with our collaborators, are currently utilizing this regime and the favourable properties it affords for non-Gaussian motional state preparation of the acoustic field. In particular, the high mechanical frequencies, and low optical absorption and heating provide a promising route to overcome current hindrances within optomechanics. Three of our recent experimental results in this area include: (i) Brillouin optomechanical strong coupling, (ii) single-phonon addition or subtraction to a thermal state of the acoustic field, and (iii) performing phase-space tomography of non-Gaussian states generated by single- and multi-phonon subtraction. This SPIE presentation will cover these three results, what they enable, and the broader direction of our lab including the prospects of this platform for quantum-memory applications.