Optomechanical Detection of Individual Gas Collisions

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Tseng, Yu-Han, Hardy, Clarke A., Penny, T. W., Lowe, Cecily, Baeza-Rubio, Jacqueline, Carney, Daniel, Moore, David C.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Tseng, Yu-Han
Hardy, Clarke A.
Penny, T. W.
Lowe, Cecily
Baeza-Rubio, Jacqueline
Carney, Daniel
Moore, David C.
author_facet Tseng, Yu-Han
Hardy, Clarke A.
Penny, T. W.
Lowe, Cecily
Baeza-Rubio, Jacqueline
Carney, Daniel
Moore, David C.
contents We experimentally demonstrate the detection of momentum transfers from individual collisions of Kr, Xe, and SF$_6$ with an optically levitated nanoparticle, finding good agreement with theoretical expectations. The observed event rates accurately measure the gas partial pressures, while the spectral shape provides a sensitive probe of the surface properties of the nanoparticle, including its temperature. The reconstruction of impulse signals as small as 200 keV/$c$ further establishes that levitated optomechanical sensors can reach the sensitivity required for precision measurements of fundamental particle interactions, and demonstrates a proof-of-principle for a primary pressure sensor based on the detection of individual gas particle collisions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_18371
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optomechanical Detection of Individual Gas Collisions
Tseng, Yu-Han
Hardy, Clarke A.
Penny, T. W.
Lowe, Cecily
Baeza-Rubio, Jacqueline
Carney, Daniel
Moore, David C.
Quantum Physics
High Energy Physics - Experiment
Instrumentation and Detectors
We experimentally demonstrate the detection of momentum transfers from individual collisions of Kr, Xe, and SF$_6$ with an optically levitated nanoparticle, finding good agreement with theoretical expectations. The observed event rates accurately measure the gas partial pressures, while the spectral shape provides a sensitive probe of the surface properties of the nanoparticle, including its temperature. The reconstruction of impulse signals as small as 200 keV/$c$ further establishes that levitated optomechanical sensors can reach the sensitivity required for precision measurements of fundamental particle interactions, and demonstrates a proof-of-principle for a primary pressure sensor based on the detection of individual gas particle collisions.
title Optomechanical Detection of Individual Gas Collisions
topic Quantum Physics
High Energy Physics - Experiment
Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.18371