Optical centrifuge for nanoparticles
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We study theoretically the creation of an optical centrifuge for the controlled rotation of levitated nanorotors within an optical tweezer. The optical centrifuge's motion is simulated by rapidly rotating the linear polarization of the tightly focused optical field used to form an optical trap. We show that nanorotors, formed by anisotropic nanoparticles levitated within a trap, can be accelerated to well-defined rotational rates in excess of 100 MHz over durations of hundreds of microseconds. The initial conditions required for stable acceleration, based on optical trap properties and the anisotropic susceptibility of the nanorotor are established and confirmed by numerical simulations. We also present initial experiments that have developed tools for the rapid angular acceleration of the polarization vector of the linearly polarized beam that is required to create the centrifuge. We show that over acceleration durations in the 100 μ s range, high rotational speeds could be achieved in modest vacuum.
Source: Physical Review Research
DOI: 10.1103/ylw9-22jj
Institution: University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,625
Awards: G200420185, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Delivering Quantum Technologies, Laser refrigeration on the nanoscale: From nanocryostats to quantum optomechanics, Quantum Cavity Optomechanics of Levitated Nanoparticles: from Foundations to Technologies, Fundamental science and technology with levitated cavity optomechanics
OpenAlex ID: W4416512180