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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Sensing Static Forces with Free-Falling Nanoparticles

Erik Hebestreit, Martin Frimmer, René Reimann, and Lukas Novotny

Miniaturized mechanical sensors rely on resonant operation schemes, unsuited to detect static forces. We demonstrate a nanomechanical sensor for static forces based on an optically trapped nanoparticle in vacuum. Our technique relies on an off-resonant interaction of the particle with a weak static force, and a resonant readout of the displacement caused by this interaction. We demonstrate a sensitivity of 10 aN to static gravitational and electric forces. Our work provides a tool for the closer investigation of short-range forces, and marks an important step towards the realization of matter-wave interferometry with macroscopic objects.

DOI

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