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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
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High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements
Published on: May 12, 2023
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Optomechanical vector sensing of new forces at 6 micron separation.
Gautam Venugopalan1, Clarke A Hardy2, Kenneth Kohn3
1Physics Department, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA. gautamve@stanford.edu.
Scientific Reports
|January 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers improved constraints on new sub-millimeter forces using optically levitated spheres. This advances understanding of gravity and its quantum connections, setting new limits on hypothetical interactions.
Area of Science:
- Fundamental Physics
- Gravitational Physics
Background:
- Exploring new gravity-like interactions at sub-millimeter scales is crucial for unifying classical gravity with quantum physics.
- Understanding these interactions could reveal new fundamental forces beyond the Standard Model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve constraints on Yukawa-type interactions at sub-millimeter scales.
- To advance the measurement of gravitational effects using micro-scale objects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized optically levitated dielectric microspheres as test masses.
- Sensed multiple spatial components of the force vector for enhanced sensitivity.
- Achieved a sensitivity improvement by a factor of [Formula: see text] over previous methods.
Main Results:
- Established new upper limits on the strength of hypothetical new forces.
- Constrained forces with Yukawa range [Formula: see text]m to [Formula: see text].
- Achieved limits close to [Formula: see text] for Yukawa ranges around [Formula: see text]m.
Conclusions:
- The study provides the most stringent constraints to date on sub-millimeter Yukawa-type interactions.
- Results contribute to ongoing efforts to probe the quantum nature of gravity.
- Demonstrates the potential of optically levitated microspheres for precision gravity measurements.
