Levitated Ferromagnetic Torsional Oscillators for High-Precision Magnetometry and Probing Exotic Interactions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a levitated ferromagnetic torsion oscillator magnetometer that achieves high sensitivity at room temperature, enabling precise magnetic field detection and exploration of new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It presents a novel levitated ferromagnetic torsion oscillator with centroid tracking, achieving record sensitivity for room-temperature magnetic sensing and potential for fundamental physics research.

Findings

Magnetic sensitivity of 391±59 fT/Hz^{1/2} achieved.

Operates effectively at room temperature with a compact sensor volume.

Enables detection of weak magnetic fields and exploration of exotic interactions.

Abstract

Levitated ferromagnetic systems are expected to have significant potential in precision magnetic field sensing by leveraging mechanical isolation to minimize mechanical contact and associated noise. Here, we report the implementation of a high-sensitivity magnetometer based on a levitated ferromagnetic torsion oscillator, incorporating a centroid tracking method for superior measurement resolution and noises reduction. The device, featuring a compact sensor volume of $(2.5 \, \rm{mm})^3$ and operating under room temperature, attains a remarkable magnetic sensitivity of {$391\pm 59 \, \rm{fT\cdot Hz^{-1/2}}$}. This capability enables precise detection of weak magnetic fields and provides a novel platform for exploring exotic interactions beyond the Standard Model. These results demonstrate that the levitated torsion oscillator system not only serves as a powerful tool for high-precision magnetic sensing but also holds promise for advancing breakthroughs in fundamental physics.