Ultrasensitive Force Sensing with Optically Levitating Nanoparticles

POSTER

Abstract

Measuring short-range forces such as deviations to Newtonian gravity or Casimir forces requires precision sensitivity. Optically-levitating nanospheres in vacuum have experimentally been shown to present excellent sensitivity at the zeptonewton scale. Our experiment makes use of precise position control of an optically levitating 300 nm silica sphere in vacuum. We plan to use this system to search for a Yukawa-type correction to Newtonian gravity. Furthermore, successful execution of our experiment can allow us to investigate other short-range surface-force phenomena as well.

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Presenters

  • Nia Burrell

    Northwestern University

Authors

  • Nia Burrell

    Northwestern University

  • Chethn Galla

    Northwestern University

  • Andrew Laeuger

    Northwestern University

  • Evan Weisman

    Northwestern University

  • Andrew A Geraci

    Northwestern University