Hybrid Electro-Optical Integrated Devices for Levitated Optomechanics
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Date
2025
Publication Type
Doctoral Thesis
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Abstract
Levitodynamics explores nanoparticles levitated in vacuum by optical,
electrical, or magnetic forces, where environmental isolation enables
exceptional force, acceleration, and torque sensitivity. Combined
with precise optical control and motion readout, levitated particles
provide a powerful platform to investigate quantum mechanics with
mesoscopic objects, probe the quantum–classical boundary and realize
quantum-enhanced sensors.
Conventional levitation setups rely on bulky components, such as
optical assemblies, macroscopic electrodes, and nanopositioners. This
complexity limits portability and practical deployment, such as integration
in vehicles or other compact environments, and prevents
bringing electrodes sufficiently close to the particle to realize the
complex potentials needed for advanced quantum protocols.
In this thesis, we present integrated electro-optical devices for
highvacuum nanoparticle levitation. The first platform combines optical
fibers with planar electrodes to realize standing-wave traps compatible
with fiber integration. The electrodes provide active, measurementbased
feedback, cooling the particle motion to a few hundred phonons.
The second platform replaces the fibers with a high-numerical-aperture
metalens, enabling efficient light collection and electrode-assisted cooling
of charged particles to tens of phonons.
As an alternative to measurement-based cooling, we demonstrate
coherent feedback cooling of a levitated nanoparticle based on
interference between the trapping beam and the particle’s backscattered
light. This cavity-free, charge-independent scheme provides passive
cooling, reducing the need for complex electronics, and paves the way
toward remote coupling between quantum systems.
Together, these results establish the feasibility of miniaturized hybrid
devices for levitodynamics, paving the way toward transportable sensors,
scalable quantum technologies, and fundamental tests of quantum
mechanics with levitated nanoparticles.
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published
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ETH Zurich
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Subject
Levitation optomechanics; Trapped Particles
Organisational unit
09698 - Quidant, Romain / Quidant, Romain
Notes
Funding
951234 - Macroscopic Quantum Superpositions (EC)
863132 - Inertial Sensing Based on Quantum- Enhanced Levitation Systems (EC)
863132 - Inertial Sensing Based on Quantum- Enhanced Levitation Systems (EC)