Physicists Apply Quantum Squeezing to a Nanoparticle
Physicists at the University of Tokyo, Japan have successfully performed quantum mechanical squeezing on a nanoparticle for the first time.
This achievement was made possible by levitating the particle and rapidly varying the frequency at which it oscillates, shedding light on the nature of the classical-quantum transition for small objects.
Oscillating objects smaller than a few microns in diameter have applications in various areas of quantum technology, including optical clocks, superconducting devices, and quantum sensors.
These objects are small enough to be affected by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, which limits the precision of simultaneous measurements of position and momentum of a quantum object.
Quantum squeezing could lead to improvements in quantum sensors.
Author's summary: Physicists squeeze nanoparticle for the first time.