Cooling the optical-spin driven limit cycle oscillations of a levitated gyroscope

0575367 - ÚPT 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Arita, Y. - Simpson, Stephen Hugh - Bruce, G. D. - Wright, E. M. - Zemánek, Pavel - Dholakia, K.
Cooling the optical-spin driven limit cycle oscillations of a levitated gyroscope.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS. Roč. 6, č. 1 (2023), č. článku 238. ISSN 2399-3650. E-ISSN 2399-3650
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT EF15_003/0000476
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) AP2002
Program: Akademická prémie - Praemium Academiae
Institutional support: RVO:68081731
Keywords : optical levitation * limit cycle * gyroscope * motion cooling
OECD category: Optics (including laser optics and quantum optics)
Impact factor: 5.5, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42005-023-01336-4

Birefringent microspheres, trapped in vacuum and set into rotation by circularly polarised light, demonstrate remarkably stable translational motion. This is in marked contrast to isotropic particles in similar conditions. Here we demonstrate that this stability is obtained because the fast rotation of these birefringent spheres reduces the effect of azimuthal spin forces created by the inhomogeneous optical spin of circularly polarised light. At reduced pressures, the unique profile of these rotationally averaged, effective azimuthal forces results in the formation of nano-scale limit cycles. We demonstrate feedback cooling of these non-equilibrium oscillators, resulting in effective temperatures on the order of a milliKelvin. The principles we elaborate here can inform the design of high-stability rotors carrying enhanced centripetal loads or result in more efficient cooling schemes for autonomous limit cycle oscillations. Ultimately, this latter development could provide experimental access to non-equilibrium quantum effects within the mesoscopic regime.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0345153