Trapping and cooling of nanodiamonds in a Paul trap under ultra-high vacuum: Towards matter-wave interferometry with massive objects

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2508.14687v1
• Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:05:23 GMT
• Title: Trapping and cooling of nanodiamonds in a Paul trap under ultra-high vacuum: Towards matter-wave interferometry with massive objects
• Abstract summary: A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle can test numerous fundamental ideas, including the spatial superposition principle.<n>We focus on utilizing nanodiamonds with embedded spins as test particles.<n>In this work we detail the trapping of a nanodiamond at 10-8 mbar, which is good enough for the realization of a short-duration Stern-Gerlach interferometer.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Abstract: Quantum mechanics (QM) and General relativity (GR), also known as the theory of gravity, are the two pillars of modern physics. A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle can test numerous fundamental ideas, including the spatial superposition principle - a foundational concept in QM - in previously unexplored regimes. It also opens the possibility of probing the interface between QM and GR, such as testing the quantization of gravity. Consequently, there exists an intensive effort to realize such an interferometer. While several approaches are being explored, we focus on utilizing nanodiamonds with embedded spins as test particles which, in combination with Stern-Gerlach forces, enable the realization of a closed-loop matter-wave interferometer in space-time. There is a growing community of groups pursuing this path [1]. We are posting this technical note (as part of a series of seven such notes), to highlight our plans and solutions concerning various challenges in this ambitious endeavor, hoping this will support this growing community. In this work we detail the trapping of a nanodiamond at 10^-8 mbar, which is good enough for the realization of a short-duration Stern-Gerlach interferometer. We describe in detail the cooling we have performed to sub-Kelvin temperatures, and demonstrate that the nanodiamond remains confined within the trap even under high-intensity 1560 nm laser illumination. We would be happy to make available more details upon request.

Related papers

• Exploring confinement transitions in $\mathbb{Z}_2$ lattice gauge theories with dipolar atoms beyond one dimension [32.235129163152045]
  Confinement of particles into bound states is a phenomenon spanning from high-energy to condensed matter physics.<n>State-of-the-art quantum simulators constitute a promising platform to address this problem.<n>We study confinement in chains of $mathbbZ$ LGTs coupled to matter fields, that can be mapped to a mixed-dimensional (mixD) XXZ model.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-09-19T17:58:55Z)
• Neutralization of Levitated Charged Nanodiamond: Towards matter-wave interferometry with massive objects [0.0]
  We demonstrate the neutralization of levitated nanodiamonds using ultraviolet photoemission.<n>We demonstrate discrete, single-electron charge manipulation of levitated nanodiamond in a needle Paul trap at a pressure of 0.5,Torr.<n>This constitutes a significant step towards the realization of a nanodiamond spatial interferometer.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-21T14:50:58Z)
• Quantum control of Nitrogen-Vacancy spin in Diamonds: Towards matter-wave interferometry with massive objects [0.0]
  A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle can test numerous fundamental ideas, including the spatial superposition principle.<n>We present our work on quantum control of a nitrogen-vacancy spin system in bulk diamonds and in levitated diamonds.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-21T12:31:11Z)
• Design of high-efficiency UHV loading of nanodiamonds into a Paul trap: Towards Matter-Wave Interferometry with Massive Objects [0.0]
  A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle can test numerous fundamental ideas.<n>We focus on utilizing nanodiamonds as our particle, and a spin embedded in the ND together with Stern-Gerlach forces, to achieve a closed loop in space-time.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-20T14:01:50Z)
• Strong Confinement of a Nanoparticle in a Needle Paul Trap: Towards Matter-Wave Interferometry with Nanodiamonds [0.0]
  A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle, can test numerous fundamental ideas.<n>We design a needle Paul trap with a controllable distance between the electrodes, giving rise to a strong electric gradient.<n>By combining it with an effective charging method - electrospray - we reach a trap frequency of up to 40 kHz.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-19T21:02:57Z)
• Parametric feedback cooling of librations of a nanodiamond in a Paul trap: Towards matter-wave interferometry with massive objects [0.0]
  A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle can test numerous fundamental ideas.<n>We present a theoretical study concerning the impact of rotations of the ND on the interferometric contrast.<n>We show that the required libration temperatures should be within reach in the very near future.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-19T10:44:39Z)
• Fabrication of nano-diamonds with a single NV center: Towards matter-wave interferometry with massive objects [0.0]
  A matter-wave interferometer with a massive particle can test numerous fundamental ideas, including the spatial superposition principle.<n>We focus on utilizing nanodiamonds with embedded spins as test particles which, in combination with Stern-Gerlach forces, enable the realization of a closed-loop matter-wave interferometer in space-time.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-08-19T09:08:59Z)
• Long-lived entanglement of molecules in magic-wavelength optical tweezers [41.94295877935867]
  We present the first realisation of a microwave-driven entangling gate between two molecules. We show that the magic-wavelength trap preserves the entanglement, with no measurable decay over 0.5 s. The extension of precise quantum control to complex molecular systems will allow their additional degrees of freedom to be exploited across many domains of quantum science.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-08-27T09:28:56Z)
• Table-top nanodiamond interferometer enabling quantum gravity tests [34.82692226532414]
  We present a feasibility study for a table-top nanodiamond-based interferometer. By relying on quantum superpositions of steady massive objects our interferometer may allow exploiting just small-range electromagnetic fields.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-05-31T17:20:59Z)
• Finite Pulse-Time Effects in Long-Baseline Quantum Clock Interferometry [45.73541813564926]
  We study the interplay of the quantum center-of-mass $-$ that can become delocalized $-$ together with the internal clock transitions. We show at the example of a Gaussian laser beam that the proposed quantum-clock interferometers are stable against perturbations from varying optical fields.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-09-25T18:00:03Z)
• Quantum control and Berry phase of electron spins in rotating levitated diamonds in high vacuum [40.27879500842531]
  Levitated diamond particles in high vacuum with internal spin qubits have been proposed for exploring quantum mechanics. We fabricate an integrated surface ion trap with multiple stabilization electrodes. This facilitates on-chip levitation and, for the first time, optically detected magnetic resonance measurements of a nanodiamond levitated in high vacuum.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-09-11T20:56:09Z)
• A high-flux source system for matter-wave interferometry exploiting tunable interactions [33.92525320044496]
  Atom interferometers allow determining inertial effects to high accuracy. Here we report on a high-flux source of ultra-cold atoms with free expansion rates near the Heisenberg limit directly upon release from the trap.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-07-13T14:10:53Z)
• Enhanced optomechanical interaction in the unbalanced interferometer [40.96261204117952]
  Quantum optomechanical systems enable the study of fundamental questions on quantum nature of massive objects. Here we propose a modification of the Michelson-Sagnac interferometer, which allows to boost the optomechanical coupling strength.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-05-11T14:24:34Z)
• Realization of a complete Stern-Gerlach interferometer: Towards a test of quantum gravity [0.0]
  The Stern-Gerlach effect, discovered a century ago, has become a paradigm of quantum mechanics. No full-loop Stern-Gerlach interferometer has been realized with the scheme as envisioned decades ago. Here we provide a detailed account of the first full-loop Stern-Gerlach interferometer realization, based on highly accurate magnetic fields.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-11-22T03:56:49Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.