Nanomechanical systems with GHz secular frequency and high quality factor have been probed in state-of-art experiments approaching the quantum limit. Here we show that the quantum features of the nanomechanical modes can be studied and manipulated via the coupling to a trapped ion. We describe a system where the ion is in a nanotrap with the electrodes being nanomechanical resonators. The motion of the ion and that of the nanomechanical modes can be described as coupled harmonical oscillators. The ions play the role of a quantum optical system that acts as a probe and control, and allows entanglement with or between nanomechanical resonators. We show as examples the laser cooling and the entanglement generation between the resonators.
(This work was done in collaboration with Peter Zoller.)

Contact: Bei-Lok Hu