Title: NIST Demonstrates Quantum Sensing Technique for Measuring Sub-Zero Point Fluctuations
Summary:
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new quantum sensing technique that can measure the amplitude of motion in a two-dimensional crystal of trapped ions with unprecedented precision. By employing techniques similar to those used in quantum information processing, the team was able to detect motion as small as 50 picometers (pm), which is 40 times smaller than the zero-point fluctuations of the ions’ center-of-mass motion.
The technique, which involves sensing the spin-motion entanglement induced by optical-dipole force (odf) laser beams, has the potential to detect extremely weak forces and electric fields. When performed on resonance with the center-of-mass frequency, it could enable the detection of forces as weak as 1 yoctonewton (yN) and electric fields as weak as 1 nanovolt per meter (nV/m). This could open up new possibilities for probing quantum sensing limits and searching for physics beyond the standard model.
The research team used a planar array of beryllium ions trapped in a Penning trap and cooled to temperatures below 1 millikelvin (mK). The technique could have applications in precision measurements, quantum computing, and fundamental physics experiments.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2017/10/amplitude-sensing-below-zero-point-fluctuations
Keywords: entanglement, zero-point fluctuations, quantum-mechanical, oscillators, ions
