Bulletin of the American Physical Society
53rd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume 67, Number 7
Monday–Friday, May 30–June 3 2022; Orlando, Florida
Session H03: Precision Measurements with Microscopic Levitated Objects (GPMFC)Invited Session Live Streamed
|
Hide Abstracts |
Chair: Derek Jackson Kimball, California State University - East Bay Room: Grand Ballroom B |
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 8:00AM - 8:30AM |
H03.00001: Approaching the Quantum Limit of Position Measurements in a Magneto-Gravitational Trap Invited Speaker: Brian R D'Urso Levitated particles in vacuum hold promise for tests of fundamental physics due to their isolation from the environment and easily controlled simple harmonic motion. The static trapping fields of magneto-gravitational traps, which use the repulsion of diamagnetic materials by magnetic fields combined with Earth's gravity, are particularly well-suited to precision measurements. Furthermore, the relatively large possible mass of levitated particles and the weak restoring force in these traps makes them attractive for gravitational measurements and macroscopic tests of quantum mechanics. Our measurements in these traps begin with precision tracking of the particle position. We present a method of tracking the position of a trapped microsphere with precision near the shot noise limit, even with large microspheres and millimeter-scale displacements, using CMOS cameras and a novel image analysis algorithm. This method enables nearly shot noise limited detection of microsphere motion for a potential new measurement of the Newtonian constant of gravitation as well as position measurements approaching the standard quantum limit in the quasi-free particle regime. |
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 8:30AM - 9:00AM |
H03.00002: Precision scanning force sensing with nanoparticles in optical lattices Invited Speaker: Andrew A Geraci In high vacuum, optically levitated dielectric nanospheres achieve excellent decoupling from their environment, making them ultra-sensitive detectors of feeble forces and accelerations. In this talk I will describe our results on three-dimensional scanning force sensing using optically trapped nanoparticles trapped in an optical lattice at micron-scale distances from a metallic mirror and discuss our progress towards applying these techniques for tests of the gravitational inverse square law at micron scales. Finally, I will describe our progress towards using non-spherical nanoparticles trapped in optical lattices to search for high-frequency gravitational waves. |
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 9:00AM - 9:30AM |
H03.00003: Searching for new forces at micron scale and other fun tricks with levitated microspheres Invited Speaker: Giorgio Gratta In recent years, levitated optomechanics has become a well established subfield. In this talk, I will describe a new program of measurements in fundamental physics using optically levitated dielectric microspheres. The focus of the talk will be the recently completed first search for new, gravity-like interactions at micron scale using this novel technique. I will also show an array of other results, including searches for millicharged particles, tests of the neutrality of matter and techniques to manipulate the various degrees of freedom of the trapped microspheres. |
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 9:30AM - 10:00AM |
H03.00004: Ultrasensitive magnetometry with levitated ferromagnetic torque sensors Invited Speaker: Andrea Vinante Magnetically levitated micro or nano-objects are becoming increasingly attractive, both in the context of quantum science, for instance to probe quantum mechanics in the macroscopic limit, and in ultrasensitive mechanical sensing. The most peculiar feature of these systems is the very high degree of isolation from the environment that can be potentially achieved. We will discuss an approach based on levitating micromagnets by Meissner effect in a gravitational-superconducting trap, using SQUIDs as motion detectors. Preliminary measurements show that levitation can be realized in fair agreement with the Meissner effect. Furthermore, ultralow damping rate of rotational and translational modes was demonstrated, down to 10-5 s-1, with the ultimate limits yet to be investigated. Several applications of magnetically levitated sensors in fundamental physics can be conceived. Ultrasensitive force or torque sensors can be used, for instance, to test wavefunction-collapse models or to investigate exotic interactions beyond the standard model. More specifically, we will discuss the potential of these systems in ultrasensitive magnetometry. A rotational torque sensor based on a levitated micromagnet is expected to overcome the Standard Quantum Limit on magnetometry, and, in particular, to surpass by orders of magnitude the Energy Resolution Limit, often proposed as a conventional benchmark for ultrasensitive magnetometers. Remarkably, this goal may be achievable not only in the atom-like Larmor precession regime, as initially proposed [1], but also in the more common librational regime [2]. We will discuss the current state of experiments and future prospects. |
Follow Us |
Engage
Become an APS Member |
My APS
Renew Membership |
Information for |
About APSThe American Physical Society (APS) is a non-profit membership organization working to advance the knowledge of physics. |
© 2025 American Physical Society
| All rights reserved | Terms of Use
| Contact Us
Headquarters
1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844
(301) 209-3200
Editorial Office
100 Motor Pkwy, Suite 110, Hauppauge, NY 11788
(631) 591-4000
Office of Public Affairs
529 14th St NW, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20045-2001
(202) 662-8700