title: Observation of quantum motion of a nanomechanical resonator.
abstract: In this Letter we use resolved sideband laser cooling to cool a mesoscopic mechanical resonator to near its quantum ground state (phonon occupancy 2.6±0.2), and observe the motional sidebands generated on a second probe laser. Asymmetry in the sideband amplitudes provides a direct measure of the displacement noise power associated with quantum zero-point fluctuations of the nanomechanical resonator, and allows for an intrinsic calibration of the phonon occupation number.
authors.affiliation: Thomas J. Watson, Sr., Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Safavi-Naeini
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jeff T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Thiago P Mayer
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Alegre
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Oskar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Painter