Measurement of the Casimir force with a ferrule-top sensor

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel all-optical ferrule-top sensor for measuring the Casimir force, demonstrating comparable results to atomic force microscopes and offering advantages for challenging environmental conditions.

Contribution

The study presents a new ferrule-top sensor design that simplifies Casimir force measurements and enhances applicability in diverse environments.

Findings

Successful measurement of Casimir force gradient between gold surfaces

Sensor performance comparable to atomic force microscopes

Design allows operation in environments unsuitable for traditional setups

Abstract

We present a Casimir force setup based on an all-optical ferrule-top sensor. We demonstrate that the instrument can be used to measure the gradient of the Casimir force between a gold coated sphere and a gold coated plate with results that are comparable to those achieved by similar atomic force microscope experiments. Thanks to the monolithic design of the force sensor (which does not require any optical triangulation readout) and to the absence of electronics on the sensing head, the instrument represents a significant step ahead for future studies of the Casimir effect under engineered conditions, where the intervening medium or the environmental conditions might be unsuitable for the use of more standard setups.