Time-of-flight force sensing below the quantum zero-point fluctuation
- URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2605.09854v1
- Date: Mon, 11 May 2026 01:10:55 GMT
- Title: Time-of-flight force sensing below the quantum zero-point fluctuation
- Abstract summary: We show that a levitated nanoparticles can be used as a promising platform for quantum-limited force sensing.<n>Our results pave the way to utilize a levitated nanoparticles as a promising sensing platform beyond the quantum limit.
- Score: 0.0
- License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
- Abstract: Sensing weak forces through observing a mechanical motion near or below its quantum zero-point fluctuation has been desired in diverse areas. While mechanical oscillators have played a crucial role in such studies, their application to free-fall-type sensing has been elusive, in particular in the quantum regime. Here, we demonstrate sensing a static force of the order of 10 zeptonewtons with a levitated nanomechanical oscillator below the zero-point fluctuation through the rapid modulation of its confining potential. We prepare a squeezed state with a reduced velocity uncertainty by abruptly decreasing the potential. Subsequently, we detect the exerted static force through time-of-flight measurements, where we release the nanoparticle from the potential and measure the displacement during a free fall. Furthermore, time-of-flight measurements allow us to perform quantum state tomography of the squeezed state, from which we reconstruct its Wigner quasiprobability distribution and evaluate the Fisher information for the position measurement to quantify the achievable force sensitivity of our protocol. Our results demonstrate that modulating the trap stiffness serves as a crucial technique for quantum-limited force sensing and paves the way to utilize a levitated nanoparticle as a promising sensing platform beyond the quantum limit with a capability of quantum state tomography.
Related papers
- Fast quantum squeezing of a nanomechanical oscillator with an inverted potential [0.0]
Nonclassical states of nano- and micro-mechanical motion enable measurements beyond the standard quantum limit.<n>To push mechanical systems deeper into the quantum-squeezed regime requires protocols that increase the rate at which squeezing is generated.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2026-09-11T13:27:26Z) - A levitated nano-accelerometer sensitized by quantum quench [0.0]
We realize a nanoscale accelerometer exploiting the nonequilibrium dynamics of a nanoparticles near the quantum ground state.<n>We find that rapid quenching provides an instance at which the sensitivity is enhanced due to the minimized uncertainty in the position.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2026-01-28T23:22:01Z) - Quantum Zeno Effect in the Spatial Evolution of a Single Atom [40.445653829112494]
The quantum Zeno effect (QZE) reveals that frequent measurements can suppress quantum evolution.<n>We employ an optical dipole trap as a projective measurement to study the motion of a single cold atom in free space.<n>Our results provide a direct experimental demonstration of the QZE in real space and establish a versatile framework for measurement-based control of atomic motion.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-09-29T08:23:19Z) - Quantum sensing of displacements with stabilized GKP states [41.94295877935867]
We show how protocols for the stabilization of Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill states can be used for the estimation of two-quadrature displacement sensing.<n>Thanks to the stabilization, this sensor is backaction evading and can function continuously without reset, making it well suited for the detection of itinerant signals.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-06-25T17:18:50Z) - Quantum squeezing of a levitated nanomechanical oscillator [0.0]
We demonstrate quantum squeezing of the motion of a single nanoparticles by rapidly varying its oscillation frequency.<n>Our work shows that a levitated nanoparticles offers an ideal platform for studying non-classical states of its motion.<n>It paves the way for its applications in quantum sensing, as well as for exploring quantum mechanics at a macroscopic scale.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-04-24T21:15:22Z) - 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) - Squeezing below the ground state of motion of a continuously monitored levitating nanoparticle [0.0]
Squeezing is a crucial resource for quantum information processing and quantum sensing.
We analyze the performance of a scheme that embeds careful time-control of trapping potentials.
The feasibility of our proposal, which is close to experimental state-of-the-art, makes it a valuable tool for quantum state engineering.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2024-03-27T17:34:50Z) - Revealing the velocity uncertainties of a levitated particle in the
quantum ground state [0.0]
We demonstrate time-of-flight measurements for an ultracold levitated nanoparticles and reveal its velocity for the translational motion brought to the quantum ground state.
We discover that the velocity distributions obtained with repeated release-and-recapture measurements are significantly broadened via librational motions of the nanoparticles.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2023-06-28T23:34:43Z) - Universality of critical dynamics with finite entanglement [68.8204255655161]
We study how low-energy dynamics of quantum systems near criticality are modified by finite entanglement.
Our result establishes the precise role played by entanglement in time-dependent critical phenomena.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2023-01-23T19:23:54Z) - Detectable Signature of Quantum Friction on a Sliding Particle in Vacuum [58.720142291102135]
We show traces of quantum friction in the degradation of the quantum coherence of a particle.
We propose to use the accumulated geometric phase acquired by a particle as a quantum friction sensor.
The experimentally viable scheme presented can spark renewed optimism for the detection of non-contact friction.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2021-03-22T16:25:27Z) - Quantum Zeno effect appears in stages [64.41511459132334]
In the quantum Zeno effect, quantum measurements can block the coherent oscillation of a two level system by freezing its state to one of the measurement eigenstates.
We show that the onset of the Zeno regime is marked by a $textitcascade of transitions$ in the system dynamics as the measurement strength is increased.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2020-03-23T18:17:36Z) - Zitterbewegung and Klein-tunneling phenomena for transient quantum waves [77.34726150561087]
We show that the Zitterbewegung effect manifests itself as a series of quantum beats of the particle density in the long-time limit.
We also find a time-domain where the particle density of the point source is governed by the propagation of a main wavefront.
The relative positions of these wavefronts are used to investigate the time-delay of quantum waves in the Klein-tunneling regime.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2020-03-09T21:27:02Z)
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.