Work

All-optical saddle trap as a platform for mesoscopic quantum experiments

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: We investigate the quantum dynamics of a levitated nanoparticle in a structured light rotating saddle-like optical potential consisting of a superposition of Gaussian and Laguerre-Gauss modes with detuned frequencies. This rotating saddle trap offers unique opportunities for quantum experiments, such as reduced decoherence due to photon recoil and absorption, the possibility of large delocalization of the particle's center-of-mass motion, particle recovery protocols, the generation of motional entanglement and momentum squeezing. As an application, we show that this saddle-trap architecture enables force detection with sensitivity in the zepto-Newton regime.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2605.00724

Authors: Paraguassú, Pedro V., Abrahão, Luca, Tandeitnik, Daniel, Martínez-Tibaduiza, D., Khoury, Antonio Zelaquett, Guerreiro, Thiago

Institutions: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal Fluminense

Topic: Mechanical and Optical Resonators

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Serrapilheira

Awards: G1207375514, G1840770272, G2311368543, G2584274330, G4477946554, G5791190013, G6438247056, Nonlinear optomechanical devices as transducers for the quantum internet, G871200192, G8966621125

OpenAlex ID: W7160093354

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