Nanoparticle detection in an open-access silicon microcavity

Author(s)
Stefan Kuhn, Georg Wachter, Franz-Ferdinand Wieser, James Millen, Michael Schneider, Johannes Schalko, Ulrich Schmid, Michael Trupke, Markus Arndt
Abstract

We report on the detection of free nanoparticles in a micromachined, open-access Fabry-Pérot microcavity. With a mirror separation of 130 μm, a radius of curvature of 1.3 mm, and a beam waist of 12 μm, the mode volume of our symmetric infrared cavity is smaller than 15 pL. The small beam waist, together with a finesse exceeding 34 000, enables the detection of nanoscale dielectric particles in high vacuum. This device allows monitoring of the motion of individual 150 nm radius silica nanospheres in real time. We observe strong coupling between the particles and the cavity field, a precondition for optomechanical control. We discuss the prospects for optical cooling and detection of dielectric particles smaller than 10 nm in radius and 1 × 10

7 amu in mass.

Organisation(s)
Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information
External organisation(s)
Technische Universität Wien
Journal
Applied Physics Letters
Volume
111
No. of pages
4
ISSN
0003-6951
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5008492
Publication date
12-2017
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
210006 Nanotechnology, 103021 Optics
Keywords
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/nanoparticle-detection-in-an-openaccess-silicon-microcavity(57feb376-52d5-411b-aa66-73437875d6b3).html