Cavity Quantum Optomechanics of Ultracold Atoms in an Optical Lattice: Normal-Mode Splitting

Abstract

We consider the dynamics of a movable mirror (cantilever) of a cavity coupled through radiation pressure to the light scattered from ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. Scattering from different atomic quantum states creates different quantum states of the scattered light, which can be distinguished by measurements of the displacement spectrum of the cantilever. We show that for large pump intensities the steady state displacement of the cantilever shows bistable behaviour. Due to atomic back-action, the displacement spectrum of the cantilever is modified and depends on the position of the condensate in the Brillouin zone. We further analyze the occurrence of splitting of the normal mode into three modes due to mixing of the mechanical motion with the fluctuations of the cavity field and the fluctuations of the condensate with finite atomic two-body interaction. The present system offers a novel scheme to coherently control ultracold atoms as well as cantilever dynamics.