Simulation of an optomechanical quantum memory in the nonlinear regime

Optomechanical systems cooled to the quantum level provide a promising mechanism for a high-fidelity quantum memory that is faithful to a given temporal mode structure, and can be recovered synchronously. We carry out full, probabilistic quantum simulation of a quantum optomechanical memory, including nonlinear effects that are usually ignored. This is achieved using both the approximate truncated Wigner and the exact positive P phase-space representations. By considering the nonlinear quantum optomechanical Hamiltonian, our simulations allow us to probe the regime where the linearization approximation fails to hold. We show evidence for large spectral overlap between the quantum signal and the transfer field in typical optomechanical quantum memory experiments. Methods for eliminating this overlap to accurately recover the quantum signal are discussed. This allows us to give a complete model for the quantum storage of a coherent state. We treat the mode matching that is necessary to accurately retrieve the stored quantum state, by including the internal dynamics of the mechanical system as well as the optical system. We also include the finite switching time of the control transfer field. The fidelity for the storage of a coherent state is computed numerically using currently realistic experimental parameters in the electromechanical case. We find the expected fidelity is lower than required to demonstrate true quantum state transfers. Significant improvements in the quality factor of the cavity and mechanical systems will, however, increase the fidelity beyond the quantum threshold.