Full control of the libration potential in rotational levitodynamics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates full optical control over the librational potential of a levitated anisotropic nanoparticle, enabling advanced manipulation and sensing capabilities in rotational levitodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces the degree of polarization as a new control parameter for rotational levitodynamics and demonstrates free rotation and local spin probing.

Findings

Achieved full control over the optical potential for librational degrees of freedom.

Demonstrated free rotation of a nanoparticle around its short axis.

Used rotational degrees to probe the local spin of a laser beam.

Abstract

Control of the potential energy and free evolution lie at the heart of levitodynamics as key requirements for sensing, wave function expansion, and mechanical squeezing protocols. Here, we experimentally demonstrate full control over the optical potential governing the librational degrees of freedom of a levitated anisotropic nanoparticle. This control is achieved by introducing the degree of polarization as a new tool for rotational levitodynamics. We demonstrate the free rotation of a levitated anisotropic scatterer around its short axis and and we use the rotational degrees of freedom to probe the local spin of a strongly focused laser beam.