Abstract

We present an experiment where the motion of a silicon micro-mechanical resonator is optically monitored in a high-finesse cavity with a quantum-limited sensitivity of 4×10⁻¹⁹ m/√Hz. Directs effects of intracavity radiation pressure are experimentally demonstrated: we have observed a self-cooling of the resonator to an effective temperature in the 10 K range. Further experimental progress and cryogenic operation may allow for quantum optics experiments and lead to the experimental observation of the quantum ground state of a mechanical resonator.

© 2007 Optical Society of America