Quantum optics with silica microresonators

A quantum system, whose dynamics can be manipulated and controlled at the level of a single photon, is of both fundamental and practical importance. In this talk, I will discuss two promising systems that are based on the use of silica optical resonators. The first system consists of artificial atoms, such as nanocrystals or defect centers, coupling to a resonator mode via a dipole optical transition. The second system exploits the interaction between a mechanical excitation and a resonator mode via radiation pressure. Both of these systems take advantage of the ultrahigh quality factor inherent in silica microresonators.