- Physical Review Journals
All JournalsPhysics Magazine
Access Provided by Xinjiang University

Physical Review A

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Access by Xinjiang University

Single-atom detection with a quantum-controlled mechanical oscillator

Maxime Perdriat1,2, Maciej Dziewiecki1,2, Josef-Anton Agner3,2, Massimiliano Rossi1,2,*, Frédéric Merkt3,2, Martin Frimmer1,2, and Lukas Novotny1,2

  • 1Photonics Laboratory, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
  • 2Quantum Center, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
  • 3Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland

  • *Present address: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Department of Quantum Nanoscience, TU Delft, 2628CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
PDF

Phys. Rev. A 114, 023515 – Published 19 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/tpvm-t75j

Abstract

Using supersonic expansion, we create a time-gated, directional beam of Xe atoms with a narrow momentum distribution and detect their collisions with a levitated nanosphere cooled to its quantum ground state. We observe individual momentum kicks below 50 keV/c with 96% confidence and distinguish directional momentum transfer from the atomic beam against the background of thermal collisions. Our experiments constitute a first step toward the exploration of distance-dependent short-range interactions between atoms and levitated systems, as well as toward the use of levitated platforms for impulsive force sensing in previously unexplored parameter regimes.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (40)

  1. C. Gonzalez-Ballestero, M. Aspelmeyer, L. Novotny, R. Quidant, and O. Romero-Isart, Levitodynamics: Levitation and control of microscopic objects in vacuum, Science 374, eabg3027 (2021).
  2. Y. Jin, K. Shen, P. Ju, and T. Li, Towards real-world applications of levitated optomechanics, arXiv:2407.12496.
  3. O. Romero-Isart, Quantum superposition of massive objects and collapse models, Phys. Rev. A 84, 052121 (2011).
  4. D. C. Moore and A. A. Geraci, Searching for new physics using optically levitated sensors, Quantum Sci. Technol. 6, 014008 (2021).
  5. D. Hempston, J. Vovrosh, M. Toroš, G. Winstone, M. Rashid, and H. Ulbricht, Force sensing with an optically levitated charged nanoparticle, Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 133111 (2017).
  6. C. Timberlake, G. Gasbarri, A. Vinante, A. Setter, and H. Ulbricht, Acceleration sensing with magnetically levitated oscillators above a superconductor, Appl. Phys. Lett. 115, 224101 (2019).
  7. Y. Shi, Z. Chen, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, P. He, X. Zhu, Y. Zheng, Y. Wang, L. Guo, B. Wu, Z. Fu, X. Gao, and H. Hu, A mobile electric field sensor device based on optically levitated nano-resonators, Adv. Devices Instrum. 6, 0090 (2025).
  8. F. Ahrens, W. Ji, D. Budker, C. Timberlake, H. Ulbricht, and A. Vinante, Levitated ferromagnetic magnetometer with energy resolution well below ℏ, Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 110801 (2025).
  9. L.-H. Liu, Y. Zheng, Y. Tian, L. Wang, G.-C. Guo, and F.-W. Sun, Nanoscale vacuum gauge based on second-order coherence in optical levitation, Phys. Rev. Appl. 22, L041006 (2024).
  10. D. C. Moore, A. D. Rider, and G. Gratta, Search for millicharged particles using optically levitated microspheres, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 251801 (2014).
  11. M. Frimmer, K. Luszcz, S. Ferreiro, V. Jain, E. Hebestreit, and L. Novotny, Controlling the net charge on a nanoparticle optically levitated in vacuum, Phys. Rev. A 95, 061801(R) (2017).
  12. F. Ricci, M. T. Cuairan, G. P. Conangla, A. W. Schell, and R. Quidant, Accurate mass measurement of a levitated nanomechanical resonator for precision force-sensing, Nano Lett. 19, 6711 (2019).
  13. T. M. Fuchs, D. G. Uitenbroek, J. Plugge, N. Van Halteren, J.-P. Van Soest, A. Vinante, H. Ulbricht, and T. H. Oosterkamp, Measuring gravity with milligram levitated masses, Sci. Adv. 10, eadk2949 (2024).
  14. E. Hebestreit, M. Frimmer, R. Reimann, and L. Novotny, Sensing static forces with free-falling nanoparticles, Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 063602 (2018).
  15. F. Monteiro, G. Afek, D. Carney, G. Krnjaic, J. Wang, and D. C. Moore, Search for composite dark matter with optically levitated sensors, Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 181102 (2020).
  16. K. Zeng, X. Xu, Y. Wu, X. Wu, and D. Xiao, Optically levitated micro gyroscopes with an MHz rotational vaterite rotor, Microsyst. Nanoeng. 10, 78 (2024).
  17. J. A. Zielińska, F. van der Laan, A. Norrman, R. Reimann, M. Frimmer, and L. Novotny, Long-axis spinning of an optically levitated particle: A levitated spinning top, Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 253601 (2024).
  18. D. S. Barker, D. Carney, T. W. LeBrun, D. C. Moore, and J. M. Taylor, Collision-resolved pressure sensing, Phys. Rev. A 109, 042616 (2024).
  19. J. Wang, T. W. Penny, J. Recoaro, B. Siegel, Y.-H. Tseng, and D. C. Moore, Mechanical detection of nuclear decays, Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 023602 (2024).
  20. A. A. Clerk, Quantum-limited position detection and amplification: A linear response perspective, Phys. Rev. B 70, 245306 (2004).
  21. J. Chaste, A. Eichler, J. Moser, G. Ceballos, R. Rurali, and A. Bachtold, A nanomechanical mass sensor with yoctogram resolution, Nat. Nanotechnol. 7, 301 (2012).
  22. Y. T. Yang, C. Callegari, X. L. Feng, and M. L. Roukes, Surface adsorbate fluctuations and noise in nanoelectromechanical systems, Nano Lett. 11, 1753 (2011).
  23. A. D. Cronin, J. Schmiedmayer, and D. E. Pritchard, Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 1051 (2009).
  24. A. T. Grier, M. Cetina, F. Oručević, and V. Vuletić, Observation of cold collisions between trapped ions and trapped atoms, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 223201 (2009).
  25. C. Zipkes, S. Palzer, C. Sias, and M. Köhl, A trapped single ion inside a Bose–Einstein condensate, Nature (London) 464, 388 (2010).
  26. V. Jain, J. Gieseler, C. Moritz, C. Dellago, R. Quidant, and L. Novotny, Direct measurement of photon recoil from a levitated nanoparticle, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 243601 (2016).
  27. S. Pedalino, B. E. Ramírez-Galindo, R. Ferstl, K. Hornberger, M. Arndt, and S. Gerlich, Probing quantum mechanics with nanoparticle matter-wave interferometry, Nature (London) 649, 866 (2026).
  28. F. Tebbenjohanns, M. Frimmer, V. Jain, D. Windey, and L. Novotny, Motional sideband asymmetry of a nanoparticle optically levitated in free space, Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 013603 (2020).
  29. S. D. Hogan, M. Motsch, and F. Merkt, Deceleration of supersonic beams using inhomogeneous electric and magnetic fields, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13, 18705 (2011).
  30. Y.-H. Tseng, T. W. Penny, B. Siegel, J. Wang, and D. C. Moore, Search for dark matter scattering from optically levitated nanoparticles, PRX Quantum 6, 040367 (2025).
  31. M. Skrabulis, M. C. Sosa, N. C. Zambon, A. Militaru, M. Rossi, M. Frimmer, and L. Novotny, Nanomechanical sensor resolving impulsive forces below its zero-point fluctuations, Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 233604 (2026).
  32. M. Rossi, D. Mason, J. Chen, and A. Schliesser, Observing and verifying the quantum trajectory of a mechanical resonator, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 163601 (2019).
  33. F. Tebbenjohanns, M. L. Mattana, M. Rossi, M. Frimmer, and L. Novotny, Quantum control of a nanoparticle optically levitated in cryogenic free space, Nature (London) 595, 378 (2021).
  34. S. M. Kay, Fundamentals of Statistical Signal Processing: Detection Theory (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1998).
  35. P. Allmendinger, J. Deiglmayr, O. Schullian, K. Höveler, J. A. Agner, H. Schmutz, and F. Merkt, New method to study ion–molecule reactions at low temperatures and application to the reaction, ChemPhysChem 17, 3596 (2016).
  36. G. Bird, Transition regime behavior of supersonic beam skimmers, Phys. Fluids 19, 1486 (1976).
  37. U. Even, Pulsed supersonic beams from high pressure source: Simulation results and experimental measurements, Adv. Chem. 2014, 636042 (2014).
  38. O. Carnal and J. Mlynek, Young's double-slit experiment with atoms: A simple atom interferometer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 2689 (1991).
  39. Y.-H. Tseng, C. A. Hardy, T. Penny, C. Lowe, J. Baeza-Rubio, D. Carney, and D. C. Moore, Optomechanical detection of individual gas collisions, arXiv:2604.18371.
  40. M. Perdriat, M. Dziewiecki, J.-A. Agner, M. Rossi, F. Merkt, M. Frimmer, and L. Novotny, Data for “Single-atom detection with a quantum-controlled mechanical oscillator”, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-c-000803896.

Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. A 114, 023515– Published 19 August, 2026
  • Received 30 May 2026
  • Accepted 31 July 2026
Crossmark - Check for updates button

©2026 American Physical Society

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation