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High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements

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Published on: May 12, 2023

Nanomechanical Sensor Resolving Impulsive Forces below Its Zero-Point Fluctuations.

Martynas Skrabulis^1,2, Martin Colombano Sosa^1,2, Nicola Carlon Zambon³

¹ETH Zürich, Photonics Laboratory, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.

Physical Review Letters

|June 26, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers measured ultra-small impulsive forces using an optically levitated nanoparticle. This quantum sensor achieved a force resolution below the zero-point uncertainty, advancing mechanical transducer sensitivity.

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Area of Science:

Quantum mechanics
Optomechanics
Nanotechnology

Background:

Mechanical transducer sensitivity is fundamentally limited by quantum fluctuations.
Measuring forces below the zero-point uncertainty is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel method for measuring impulsive forces below the zero-point momentum uncertainty.
To demonstrate the capability of an optically levitated nanoparticle as a quantum sensor.

Main Methods:

Utilizing an optically levitated nanoparticle as the core sensing element.
Employing reversible squeezing of the nanoparticle's center-of-mass motion.
Coherently amplifying perturbations to enhance measurement sensitivity.

Main Results:

Achieved an impulsive-force resolution of 6.9 keV/c.
Demonstrated a force resolution 0.6 dB below the sensor's zero-point value.
Successfully measured forces smaller than the particle's zero-point momentum uncertainty.

Conclusions:

Optically levitated nanoparticles can surpass classical sensitivity limits in force measurement.
This technique opens new avenues for high-precision force sensing at the quantum level.
The demonstrated method advances the field of quantum-limited measurement.