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Wang J, Penny TW, Recoaro J, Siegel B, Tseng YH, Moore DC. Mechanical Detection of Nuclear Decays. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 133:023602. [PMID: 39073927 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.133.023602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
We report the detection of individual nuclear α decays through the mechanical recoil of the entire micron-sized particle in which the decaying nuclei are embedded. Momentum conservation ensures that such measurements are sensitive to any particles emitted in the decay, including neutral particles that may otherwise evade detection with existing techniques. Detection of the minuscule recoil of an object more than 10^{12} times more massive than the emitted particles is made possible by recently developed techniques in levitated optomechanics, which enable high-precision optical control and measurement of the mechanical motion of optically trapped particles. Observation of a change in the net charge of the particle coincident with the recoil allows decays to be identified with background levels at the micro-Becquerel level. The techniques developed here may find use in fields ranging from nuclear forensics to dark matter and neutrino physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiang Wang
- Wright Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - T W Penny
- Wright Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Juan Recoaro
- Wright Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Benjamin Siegel
- Wright Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Yu-Han Tseng
- Wright Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - David C Moore
- Wright Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Yale Quantum Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
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2
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Jin Y, Shen K, Ju P, Gao X, Zu C, Grine AJ, Li T. Quantum control and Berry phase of electron spins in rotating levitated diamonds in high vacuum. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5063. [PMID: 38871708 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49175-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Levitated diamond particles in high vacuum with internal spin qubits have been proposed for exploring macroscopic quantum mechanics, quantum gravity, and precision measurements. The coupling between spins and particle rotation can be utilized to study quantum geometric phase, create gyroscopes and rotational matter-wave interferometers. However, previous efforts in levitated diamonds struggled with vacuum level or spin state readouts. To address these gaps, we fabricate an integrated surface ion trap with multiple stabilization electrodes. This facilitates on-chip levitation and, for the first time, optically detected magnetic resonance measurements of a nanodiamond levitated in high vacuum. The internal temperature of our levitated nanodiamond remains moderate at pressures below 10-5 Torr. We have driven a nanodiamond to rotate up to 20 MHz (1.2 × 109 rpm), surpassing typical nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center electron spin dephasing rates. Using these NV spins, we observe the effect of the Berry phase arising from particle rotation. In addition, we demonstrate quantum control of spins in a rotating nanodiamond. These results mark an important development in interfacing mechanical rotation with spin qubits, expanding our capacity to study quantum phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbin Jin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Kunhong Shen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Peng Ju
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Xingyu Gao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chong Zu
- Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | | | - Tongcang Li
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Murphy CE, Duenas M, Iron D, Nelson T, D'Urso B. Selective loading of a micrometer-scale particle into a magneto-gravitational trap by sublimation-activated release. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2024; 95:063201. [PMID: 38912909 DOI: 10.1063/5.0213468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss a technique for selectively loading a particle into a magneto-gravitational trap using the sublimation of camphor to release particles from a tungsten probe tip directly into the trapping region. This sublimation-activated release (SAR) loading technique makes use of micropositioners with tungsten probe tips, as well as the relatively fast rate of sublimation of camphor at room temperature, to selectively load particles having diameters ranging from 8 to 100 μm or more. The advantages of this method include its ability to selectively load unique particles or particles in limited supply, its low loss compared to alternative techniques, the low speed of the particle when released, and the versatility of its design, which allows for loading into traps with complex geometries. SAR is demonstrated here by loading a particle into a magneto-gravitational trap, but the technique could also be applicable to other levitated optomechanical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor E Murphy
- Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
| | - Mario Duenas
- Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
| | - Daniel Iron
- Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
| | - Tobias Nelson
- Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
| | - Brian D'Urso
- Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
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Ju P, Jin Y, Shen K, Duan Y, Xu Z, Gao X, Ni X, Li T. Near-Field GHz Rotation and Sensing with an Optically Levitated Nanodumbbell. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:10157-10163. [PMID: 37909774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
A levitated nonspherical nanoparticle in a vacuum is ideal for studying quantum rotations and is an ultrasensitive torque detector for probing fundamental particle-surface interactions. Here, we optically levitate a silica nanodumbbell in a vacuum at 430 nm away from a sapphire surface and drive it to rotate at GHz frequencies. The relative linear speed between the tip of the nanodumbbell and the surface reaches 1.4 km s-1 at a submicrometer separation. The rotating nanodumbbell near the surface demonstrates a torque sensitivity of (5.0 ± 1.1) × 10-26 N m Hz-1/2 at room temperature. Moreover, we probed the near-field laser intensity distribution beyond the optical diffraction limit with a nanodumbbell levitated near a nanograting. Our numerical simulations show that the system can measure the Casimir torque and will improve the detection limit of non-Newtonian gravity by several orders of magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ju
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Yuanbin Jin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Kunhong Shen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Yao Duan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Zhujing Xu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Xingyu Gao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Xingjie Ni
- Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Tongcang Li
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Almeida F, Sousa I, Kremer O, da Silva BP, Tasca DS, Khoury AZ, Temporão G, Guerreiro T. Trapping Microparticles in a Structured Dark Focus. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:163601. [PMID: 37925716 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.163601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate stable trapping and controlled manipulation of silica microspheres in a structured optical beam consisting of a dark focus surrounded by light in all directions-the dark focus tweezer. Results from power spectrum and potential analysis demonstrate the nonharmonicity of the trapping potential landscape, which is reconstructed from experimental data in agreement to Lorentz-Mie numerical simulations. Applications of the dark tweezer in levitated optomechanics and biophysics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Almeida
- Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - I Sousa
- Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - O Kremer
- Centro de Estudos em Telecomunicações, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - B Pinheiro da Silva
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24210-346, Brazil
| | - D S Tasca
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24210-346, Brazil
| | - A Z Khoury
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24210-346, Brazil
| | - G Temporão
- Centro de Estudos em Telecomunicações, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - T Guerreiro
- Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Brzobohatý O, Duchaň M, Jákl P, Ježek J, Šiler M, Zemánek P, Simpson SH. Synchronization of spin-driven limit cycle oscillators optically levitated in vacuum. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5441. [PMID: 37673926 PMCID: PMC10482900 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41129-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We explore, experimentally and theoretically, the emergence of coherent coupled oscillations and synchronization between a pair of non-Hermitian, stochastic, opto-mechanical oscillators, levitated in vacuum. Each oscillator consists of a polystyrene microsphere trapped in a circularly polarized, counter-propagating Gaussian laser beam. Non-conservative, azimuthal forces, deriving from inhomogeneous optical spin, push the micro-particles out of thermodynamic equilibrium. For modest optical powers each particle shows a tendency towards orbital circulation. Initially, their stochastic motion is weakly correlated. As the power is increased, the tendency towards orbital circulation strengthens and the motion of the particles becomes highly correlated. Eventually, centripetal forces overcome optical gradient forces and the oscillators undergo a collective Hopf bifurcation. For laser powers exceeding this threshold, a pair of limit cycles appear, which synchronize due to weak optical and hydrodynamic interactions. In principle, arrays of such Non-Hermitian elements can be arranged, paving the way for opto-mechanical topological materials or, possibly, classical time crystals. In addition, the preparation of synchronized states in levitated optomechanics could lead to new and robust sensors or alternative routes to the entanglement of macroscopic objects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oto Brzobohatý
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Duchaň
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jákl
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Ježek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Šiler
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Zemánek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stephen H Simpson
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments, Královopolská 147, 612 64, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Rudolph H, Delić U, Aspelmeyer M, Hornberger K, Stickler BA. Force-Gradient Sensing and Entanglement via Feedback Cooling of Interacting Nanoparticles. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 129:193602. [PMID: 36399739 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.193602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We show theoretically that feedback cooling of two levitated, interacting nanoparticles enables differential sensing of forces and the observation of stationary entanglement. The feedback drives the two particles into a stationary, nonthermal state which is susceptible to inhomogeneous force fields and which exhibits entanglement for sufficiently strong interparticle couplings. We predict that force-gradient sensing at the zepto-Newton per micron range is feasible and that entanglement due to the Coulomb interaction between charged particles can be realistically observed in state-of-the-art setups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Rudolph
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Physics, Lotharstraße 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Uroš Delić
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Aspelmeyer
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Hornberger
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Physics, Lotharstraße 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin A Stickler
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Physics, Lotharstraße 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
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Priel N, Fieguth A, Blakemore CP, Hough E, Kawasaki A, Martin D, Venugopalan G, Gratta G. Dipole moment background measurement and suppression for levitated charge sensors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo2361. [PMID: 36240282 PMCID: PMC9565793 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo2361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Optically levitated macroscopic objects are a powerful tool in the field of force sensing, owing to high sensitivity, absolute force calibration, environmental isolation, and the advanced degree of control over their dynamics that have been achieved. However, limitations arise from the spurious forces caused by electrical polarization effects that, even for nominally neutral objects, affect the force sensing because of the interaction of dipole moments with gradients of external electric fields. Here, we introduce a technique to measure, model, and eliminate dipole moment interactions, limiting the performance of sensors using levitated objects. This process leads to a noise-limited measurement with a sensitivity of 3.3 × 10-5 e. As a demonstration, this is applied to the search for unknown charges of a magnitude much below that of an electron or for exceedingly small unbalances between electron and proton charges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Priel
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | | | - Emmett Hough
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Akio Kawasaki
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- W.W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Denzal Martin
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Giorgio Gratta
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- W.W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Lang RF. Dark Matter Meets Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. PHYSICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1103/physics.15.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
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