Spin-force from a Nitrogen-Vacancy ensemble drives a 100 mg levitated resonator

TL;DR

This work demonstrates control of a 128 mg levitated resonator's motion driven by an NV ensemble, achieving over 100 nm amplitude, advancing spin-based manipulation of high-mass quantum systems.

Contribution

First experimental demonstration of a high-mass levitated resonator driven by an NV ensemble, enabling spin-based control of motional states at milligram scale.

Findings

Achieved coherent motion with amplitudes over 100 nm.

Demonstrated controllable center-of-mass motion of a 128 mg oscillator.

Marked progress towards high-mass spin-based quantum engineering.

Abstract

The force experienced by a spin in a magnetic field gradient underlies many proposals for hybrid quantum systems. These include schemes for mechanically mediated quantum gates, spin squeezing, searches for exotic forces, and motional superpositions for probing the interface between quantum and gravity. Yet, experimentally observing this spin-force for anything larger than atomic scales has proved challenging. In our work, we demonstrate controllable Center-of-Mass motion of a $128 \rm\: mg$ diamagnetically levitated oscillator due to force from an ensemble of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) defects in diamond. We induce coherent motion in the oscillator by periodic optical initialisation of the NV spin states, achieving motional amplitudes exceeding $100 \rm\:nm$. Our results mark a key milestone towards spin-based engineering of motional states deep in the high-mass regime.