High-Q magnetic levitation and control of superconducting microspheres at millikelvin temperatures

Author(s)

Joachim Hofer, R. Gross, Gerard Higgins, Hans Huebl, Oliver F. Kieler, Reinhold Kleiner, Dieter Koelle, Philip Schmidt, Joshua A. Slater, Michael Trupke, Kevin Uhl, Thomas Weimann, Witlef Wieczorek, Markus Aspelmeyer

Abstract

We report the levitation of a superconducting lead-tin sphere with 100 μm diameter (corresponding to a mass of 5.6 μg) in a static magnetic trap formed by two coils in an anti-Helmholtz configuration, with adjustable resonance frequencies up to 240 Hz. The center-of-mass motion of the sphere is monitored magnetically using a dc superconducting quantum interference device as well as optically and exhibits quality factors of up to 2.6×107. We also demonstrate 3D magnetic feedback control of the motion of the sphere. The setup is housed in a dilution refrigerator operating at 15 mK. By implementing a cryogenic vibration isolation system, we can attenuate environmental vibrations at 200 Hz by approximately 7 orders of magnitude. The combination of low temperature, large mass, and high quality factor provides a promising platform for testing quantum physics in previously unexplored regimes with high mass and long coherence times.

Organisation(s)

Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information

External organisation(s)

Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), Chalmers University of Technology, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Technische Universität München, Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

Journal

Physical Review Letters

Volume

131

No. of pages

7

ISSN

0031-9007

Publication date

06-2023

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103025 Quantum mechanics

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/8ff73a65-b25b-4d77-8456-4630bfd9cb68