Light that is trapped in a cavity can interact strongly with the motion of a macroscopic object. This interaction provides a powerful means for developing quantum-enhanced sensors, studying quantum effects in massive systems, and searching for physics beyond the standard model. Our group explores these questions in devices whose mass ranges from nanograms to milligrams, and which are constructed from dielectric solids and superfluid helium.

Superfluid helium has many unique properties that make it a remarkable material for quantum optomechanics experiments. By magnetically levitating millimeter-scale drops of superfluid in vacuum, we are exploring new ways to exploit these properties and to address outstanding questions in fundamental fluid mechanics.

Coupled harmonic modes provide the basic foundation for many of our physical models and real-world devices. The realization that non-Hermiticity induces rich topological structures in these systems has opened qualitatively new possibilities in both the classical and quantum domains. Our group uses cavity optomechanics, which provides robust control of non-Hermiticity, to explore these possibilities.