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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 55: Optomechanics
Q 55.5: Vortrag
Donnerstag, 5. März 2026, 15:30–15:45, P 2
Release and recapture of millikelvin cooled levitated nanoparticles in microgravity conditions — •Govindarajan Prakash1, Sven Herrmann1, Ralf B. Bergmann2, and Christian Vogt2 — 1Zentrum für Angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (ZARM), Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany — 2BIAS - Bremer Institut für Angewandte Strahltechnik GmbH, Klagenfurter Str. 5, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Optomechanical levitation of nanoparticles provides a promising platform to perform tests with macroscopic particles on the interface between quantum and classical regimes. Many proposed schemes involve free evolution of such a particle after preparation in a known quantum state. Increasing mass requires increased free evolution times for which even space-based experiments have been proposed. As a first step in this direction, we have performed experiments with a millikelvin cooled levitated silica nanoparticle at the Gravitower Bremen Pro. We use the microgravity conditions of the facility to try and extend the free-fall duration of the nanoparticle to greater than what is possible on ground[1]. So far, we have achieved up to 300 microseconds of free-fall duration with a single beam trap. In this talk, we will present the analysis of the first results, limitations, and possible improvements to our current setup.
[1]. Prakash, G., Herrmann, S., Bergmann, R. B. & Vogt, C. Release and recapture of silica nanoparticles from an optical trap in weightlessness. arXiv:2509.08666 [physics.optics] (2025)
Keywords: Levitated nanoparticles; optomechanics; microgravity; silica; drop tower