Cascaded Optomechanical Sensing for Small Signals

Abstract:We propose a sensing scheme for detecting weak forces that achieves Heisenberg-limited sensitivity without relying on entanglement or other non-classical resources. Our scheme utilizes coherent averaging across a chain of N 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.

arXiv:2602.08981 [quant-ph]

(or arXiv:2602.08981v2 [quant-ph] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2602.08981 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite

New J. Phys. 28 084505 (2026)

https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ae8b16 Focus to learn more DOI(s) linking to related resources

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