Quantum ground state of rotation achieved for the first time in two dimensions
Why it matters: This achievement could enable new quantum technologies and precision measurements.
- A research team at the University of Vienna, TU Wien, and Ulm University achieved the quantum ground state of rotation for a levitated silica nanorotor.
- The silica nanorotor's rotational motion was cooled to its lowest possible energy state in two dimensions, a first in quantum mechanics.
- This experiment provides new insights into the precise orientation of particles, building on the principle that particles can never be perfectly still.
For the first time, a collaborative research team from the University of Vienna, TU Wien, and Ulm University has successfully cooled the rotational motion of a levitated silica nanorotor to its quantum ground state in two dimensions. This breakthrough demonstrates unprecedented control over the orientation of a particle, pushing the boundaries of quantum mechanics.
