Superfluid Optomechanics with Quantized Vortices (2019–2023)
Abstract:
This project aims to develop new technologies to probe and control the flow of superfluid helium at size-scales never before possible. Superfluid helium is the only quantum liquid, characterised by flow without dissipation and quantized vortices. Leveraging the techniques of cavity optomechanics, this project aims to demonstrate control of its properties at the quantum level, including the first demonstration of laser-cooling of a liquid into its quantum ground-state. The devices developed in this project will also serve as probes of unprecedented sensitivity for the study of 2D superfluid helium, deepening our fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of superfluidity and addressing open questions from the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.
