Project description
Nanowire oscillations help us detect single particle interactions
Mechanical oscillations are periodic fluctuations in the position of an object through its centre of equilibrium, with the classic example being a mass on a spring. The characteristics of the oscillations together with the known properties of the oscillator itself enable us to discern information about the force responsible for the oscillations. Nanoscale mechanical oscillators have found important applications as sensors. Recent work has led to unprecedented sensitivity at room temperature and the ability to detect electron-electron interactions using semiconductor nanowires and an optical readout. With EU funding of the Atto-Zepto project, the scientists behind that feat are applying it to numerous phenomena. They will then insert it into an optical microcavity to enable single-photon sensing and exploration of quantum light-matter effects as well.
Objective
By enabling the conversion of forces into measurable displacements, mechanical oscillators have always played a central role in experimental physics. Recent developments in the PI group demonstrated the possibility to realize ultrasensitive and vectorial force field sensing by using suspended SiC nanowires and optical readout of their transverse vibrations. Astonishing sensitivities were obtained at room and dilution temperatures, at the Atto- Zepto-newton level, for which the electron-electron interaction becomes detectable at 100µm.
The goal of the project is to push forward those ultrasensitive nano-optomechanical force sensors, to realize even more challenging explorations of novel fundamental interactions at the quantum-classical interface.
We will develop universal advanced sensing protocols to explore the vectorial structure of fundamental optical, electrostatic or magnetic interactions, and investigate Casimir force fields above nanostructured surfaces, in geometries where it was recently predicted to become repulsive. The second research axis is the one of cavity nano-optomechanics: inserting the ultrasensitive nanowire in a high finesse optical microcavity should enhance the light-nanowire interaction up to the point where a single cavity photon can displace the nanowire by more than its zero point quantum fluctuations. We will investigate this so-called ultrastrong optomechanical coupling regime, and further explore novel regimes in cavity optomechanics, where optical non-linearities at the single photon level become accessible. The last part is dedicated to the exploration of hybrid qubit-mechanical systems, in which nanowire vibrations are magnetically coupled to the spin of a single Nitrogen Vacancy defect in diamond. We will focus on the exploration of spin-dependent forces, aiming at mechanically detecting qubit excitations, opening a novel road towards the generation of non-classical states of motion, and mechanically enhanced quantum sensors.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticscavity optomechanics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computers
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantHost institution
75794 Paris
France