Abstract
Control of the potential energy and free evolution lie at the heart of levitodynamics as key requirements for sensing, wave function expansion, and mechanical squeezing protocols. Here, we experimentally demonstrate versatile control over the optical potential governing the libration motion of a levitated anisotropic nanoparticle. This control is achieved by introducing the degree of polarization as a new tool for rotational levitodynamics. We demonstrate thermally driven free rotation of a levitated anisotropic scatterer around its short axis and we use the rotational degrees of freedom to probe the local spin of a strongly focused laser beam. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000612547Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Physical Review LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Physical SocietyOrganisational unit
03944 - Novotny, Lukas / Novotny, Lukas
Funding
863132 - Inertial Sensing Based on Quantum- Enhanced Levitation Systems (EC)
ETH-47 20-2 - Levitated Quantum Rotors (ETHZ)
Related publications and datasets
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000612752
More
Show all metadata