High- Q Magnetic Levitation and Control of Superconducting Microspheres at Millikelvin Temperatures
Journal article, 2023
We report the levitation of a superconducting lead-tin sphere with 100 μm diameter (corresponding to a mass of 5.6 μg) in a static magnetic trap formed by two coils in an anti-Helmholtz configuration, with adjustable resonance frequencies up to 240 Hz. The center-of-mass motion of the sphere is monitored magnetically using a dc superconducting quantum interference device as well as optically and exhibits quality factors of up to 2.6×107. We also demonstrate 3D magnetic feedback control of the motion of the sphere. The setup is housed in a dilution refrigerator operating at 15 mK. By implementing a cryogenic vibration isolation system, we can attenuate environmental vibrations at 200 Hz by approximately 7 orders of magnitude. The combination of low temperature, large mass, and high quality factor provides a promising platform for testing quantum physics in previously unexplored regimes with high mass and long coherence times.
Author
J. Hofer
University of Vienna
Austrian Academy of Sciences
R. Gross
Technical University of Munich
MCQST
Walther-Meissner-Institute for Low Temperature Research
Gerard Higgins
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Technology
H. Huebl
Walther-Meissner-Institute for Low Temperature Research
MCQST
Technical University of Munich
O. F. Kieler
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
R. Kleiner
University of Tübingen
D. Koelle
University of Tübingen
P. Schmidt
Austrian Academy of Sciences
J. A. Slater
University of Vienna
M. Trupke
University of Vienna
K. Uhl
University of Tübingen
T. Weimann
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Witlef Wieczorek
University of Vienna
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Technology
M. Aspelmeyer
University of Vienna
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Physical Review Letters
0031-9007 (ISSN) 1079-7114 (eISSN)
Vol. 131 4 043603Testing quantum physics in uncharted territory using a magneto-mechanical oscillator
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2020-00381), 2020-07-01 -- 2023-06-30.
Exploring nonclassical states of center-of-mass mechanical motion with superconducting magneto- and levitomechanics
European Commission (EC) (EC/HE/101080143), 2022-10-01 -- 2026-09-30.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Condensed Matter Physics
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.043603
PubMed
37566828
Related datasets
Data used in the article "High-Q magnetic levitation and control of superconducting microspheres at millikelvin temperatures" [dataset]
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7837943