Cascaded optomechanical sensing for small signals
Abstract
We propose a sensing scheme for detecting weak forces that achieves sensitivity scaling proportional to the number of individual sensors without relying on entanglement or other non-classical resources. Our scheme utilizes coherent averaging across a chain of (Formula presented) (Formula presented) 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.
Details
- External Organisation(s)
-
Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
University of Tübingen
University of Siegen
UCL
University of Bremen
Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM)
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- New journal of physics
- Volume
- 28
- ISSN
- 1367-2630
- Publication date
- 08.2026
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ae8b16 (Access:
Open
)
