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The observation of quantum phenomena in macroscopic mechanical oscillatorshas been a subject of interest since the inception of quantum mechanics.Prerequisite to this regime are both preparation of the mechanical oscillatorat low phonon occupancy and a measurement sensitivity at the scale of thespread of the oscillator's ground state wavefunction. It has been widelyperceived that the most promising approach to address these two challenges areelectro nanomechanical systems. Here we approach for the first time the quantumregime with a mechanical oscillator of mesoscopic dimensions--discernible tothe bare eye--and 1000-times more massive than the heaviest nano-mechanicaloscillators used to date. Imperative to these advances are two key principlesof cavity optomechanics: Optical interferometric measurement of mechanicaldisplacement at the attometer level, and the ability to use measurement induceddynamic back-action to achieve resolved sideband laser cooling of themechanical degree of freedom. Using only modest cryogenic pre-cooling to 1.65K, preparation of a mechanical oscillator close to its quantum ground state(63+-20 phonons) is demonstrated. Simultaneously, a readout sensitivity that iswithin a factor of 5.5+-1.5 of the standard quantum limit is achieved. Thereported experiments mark a paradigm shift in the approach to the quantum limitof mechanical oscillators using optical techniques and represent a first stepinto a new era of experimental investigation which probes the quantum nature ofthe most tangible harmonic oscillator: a mechanical vibration.

Resolved-sideband cooling and measurement of a micromechanical oscillator close to the quantum limit