Ultrasensitive Inertial and Force Sensors with Diamagnetically Levitated Magnets

Autor(en)

J. Prat-Camps, C. Teo, C. C. Rusconi, W. Wieczorek, O. Romero-Isart

Abstrakt

We theoretically show that a magnet can be stably levitated on top of a punctured superconductor sheet in the Meissner state without applying any external field. The trapping potential created by such induced-only superconducting currents is characterized for magnetic spheres ranging from tens of nanometers to tens of millimeters. Such a diamagnetically levitated magnet is predicted to be extremely well isolated from the environment. We propose to use it as an ultrasensitive force and inertial sensor. A magnetomechanical readout of its displacement can be performed by using superconducting quantum interference devices. An analysis using current technology shows that force and acceleration sensitivities on the order of 10-23 N/Hz (for a 100-nm magnet) and 10-14 g/Hz (for a 10-mm magnet) might be within reach in a cryogenic environment. Such remarkable sensitivities, both in force and acceleration, can be used for a variety of purposes, from designing ultrasensitive inertial sensors for technological applications (e.g., gravimetry, avionics, and space industry), to scientific investigations on measuring Casimir forces of magnetic origin and gravitational physics.

Organisation(en)

Quantenoptik, Quantennanophysik und Quanteninformation

Externe Organisation(en)

Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), National University of Singapore (NUS), Chalmers University of Technology, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ)

Journal

Physical Review Applied

Band

8

Anzahl der Seiten

10

ISSN

2331-7019

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.8.034002

Publikationsdatum

09-2017

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103025 Quantenmechanik, 103033 Supraleitung

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Allgemeine Physik und Astronomie

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/b48f0c34-5a5f-4681-9a04-b3a6cade2f2b