Erlangen 2022 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 36: Optomechanics II

Q 36.2: Talk

Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 14:15–14:30, Q-H13

Testing quantum mechanics with heavy objects – using magnetically-levitated superconducting microparticles — •Gerard Higgins^1,2, Joachim Hofer³, Philip Schmidt¹, Stefan Minniberger³, Jannek Hansen³, Michael Trupke^1,3, Markus Aspelmeyer^1,3, Martí Gutierrez Latorre², Achintya Paradkar², Avan Mirkhan², and Witlef Wieczorek² — ¹IQOQI, Vienna, Austria — ²Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden — ³Vienna Centre for Quantum Science and Technology, Austria

It is unclear how our classical world emerges from the quantum world. It is also unclear how to incorporate effects of gravity into quantum mechanics. To get experimental insights into these problems, we need to prepare larger masses in quantum states.

Magnetically-levitated superconducting microparticles make promising systems for doing this. We work with a lead microsphere of ∼10¹⁸ amu (∼1 µg) which we isolate from its surroundings using magnetic levitation. We read out the sphere’s COM motion using a SQUID and cool the motion by applying additional magnetic fields. We will extend our control by coupling the sphere’s motion to superconducting resonators and qubits.