Objective The emerging field of quantum cavity optomechanics (QCOM) aims to probe and control mechanical oscillators in the quantum regime, offering exciting and innovative new directions in metrology, quantum information science and fundamental questions in physics.Having recently entered the quantum regime by cooling mechanical oscillators to their ground state, we aim in this proposal to take QCOM a major step forward. We will generate a manifestly non-classical state – a single phonon Fock state – in the mechanical oscillator.This achievement is expected to usher a new era in QCOM, where mechanical quantum states are manipulated. Goals such as mechanical qubits stored in oscillators, remote entanglement of mechanical oscillators, and tests of fundamental quantum mechanics will now be within reach.The host scientist, Prof. Tobias Kippenberg, is a world leader in the field, having first demonstrated optomechanical coupling in microresonators in his postdoctoral work at Caltech in 2005, which led to an explosion of activities worldwide. Prof. Kippenberg was the first to demonstrate backaction cooling and resolved sideband cooling, which since serve as the basis for all optomechanical experiments. He also produced many milestone results in the field, which are now highly cited papers.The applicant, Itay Shomroni, has a proven track record in cavity QED and atomic physics, having done his PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, and is first author on Science, Nature Physics and PRL papers. His move into this emerging field at the interface of quantum optics and atomic and condensed matter physics, is expected to greatly benefit both himself and the host group. With the new possibilities created by the successful fulfillment of this proposal and by the expertise gained through his postdoctoral work in a leading group, he is expected to be in an excellent position to launch is own career as an independent researcher and contribute to European scientific excellence. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticscavity optomechanicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physicsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciences Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Net EU contribution € 175 419,60 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 175 419,60