Sympathetic cooling and squeezing of two co-levitated nanoparticles

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates sympathetic cooling and squeezing of two charged nanoparticles in a Paul trap, enabling improved control of macroscopic quantum states for sensing applications.

Contribution

It introduces protocols for cooling and manipulating coupled nanoparticle arrays using Coulomb interactions, advancing quantum control in levitated systems.

Findings

Successful sympathetic cooling of one nanoparticle via Coulomb coupling.

Implementation of sympathetic squeezing transferring non-thermal states.

Protocols for future nanoparticle array manipulation and sensing.

Abstract

Levitated particles are an ideal tool for measuring weak forces and investigating quantum mechanics in macroscopic objects. Arrays of two or more of these particles have been suggested for improving force sensitivity and entangling macropscopic objects. In this article, two charged, silica nanoparticles, that are coupled through their mutual Coulomb repulsion, are trapped in a Paul trap, and the individual masses and charges of both particles are characterised. We demonstrate sympathetic cooling of one nanoparticle coupled via the Coulomb interaction to the second nanoparticle to which feedback cooling is directly applied. We also implement sympathetic squeezing through a similar process showing non-thermal motional states can be transferred by the Coulomb interaction. This work establishes protocols to cool and manipulate arrays of nanoparticles for sensing and minimising the effect of optical heating in future experiments.