Levitodynamics: Levitation and control of microscopic objects in vacuum

TL;DR

Levitodynamics explores the control and application of levitated nano- and micro-objects in vacuum, integrating physics and control techniques to enable advances in quantum science and sensing technologies.

Contribution

This paper reviews recent progress, challenges, and future prospects in the multidisciplinary field of levitodynamics, highlighting experimental achievements like ground-state cooling.

Findings

Successful motional ground-state cooling of nanoparticles

Enhanced coupling of levitated objects to external forces

Potential applications in quantum physics and sensing

Abstract

The control of levitated nano- and micro-objects in vacuum is of considerable interest, capitalizing on the scientific achievements in the fields of atomic physics, control theory and optomechanics. The ability to couple the motion of levitated systems to internal degrees of freedom, as well as to external forces and systems, provides opportunities for science and technology. Attractive research directions, ranging from fundamental quantum physics to commercial sensors, have been unlocked by the many recent experimental achievements, including motional ground-state cooling of an optically levitated nanoparticle. We review the status, challenges and prospects of levitodynamics, the mutidisciplinary research devoted to understanding, controlling, and using levitated nano- and micro-objects in vacuum.