Related papers: A self-calibrating optomechanical force sensor wit…
The optical lever is a precision displacement sensor with broad applications. In principle, it can track the motion of a mechanical oscillator with added noise at the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL); however, demonstrating this performance…
We describe an autocollimating optical angle sensor with a dynamic range of 9 mrad and nrad/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity at frequencies from 5 mHz to 3 kHz. This work improves the standard multi-slit autocollimator design by adding two optical…
We introduce a micromachined force scale for laser power measurement by means of radiation pressure sensing. With this technique, the measured laser light is not absorbed and can be utilized while being measured. We employ silicon…
An increasing number of studies are moving towards the combination of quantum mechanics and gravity, where studying gravity from a very small source mass is a viable starting point. Preparing for such experiments, investigations of weak…
Levitated nanoparticles are being intensively investigated from two different perspectives: as a potential realisation of macroscopic quantum coherence; and as ultra-sensitive sensors of force, down to the zeptoNewton level, with a range of…
We realise a simple and robust optomechanical system with a multitude of long-lived ($Q>10^7$) mechanical modes in a phononic-bandgap shielded membrane resonator. An optical mode of a compact Fabry-Perot resonator detects these modes'…
We report an improved precision measurement of the Casimir force. The force is measured between a large Al coated sphere and flat plate using an Atomic Force Microscope. The primary experimental improvements include the use of smoother…
How to weigh something as precise as possible is a constant endeavor for human being, and mass sensing has been essential to scientific research and many other aspects of modern society. In this work, we explore a special approach to mass…
Tactile sensing is crucial in robotics and wearable devices for safe perception and interaction with the environment. Optical tactile sensors have emerged as promising solutions, as they are immune to electromagnetic interference and have…
Miniaturization of force probes into nanomechanical oscillators enables ultrasensitive investigations of forces on dimensions smaller than their characteristic length scale. Meanwhile it also unravels the force field vectorial character and…
Nanomechanical resonators are widely operated as force and mass sensors with sensitivities in the zepto-Newton and yocto-gram regime, respectively. Their accuracy, however, is usually undermined by high uncertainties in the effective mass…
An inertial sensor design is proposed in this paper to achieve high sensitivity and large dynamic range in the sub-Hz frequency regime. High acceleration sensitivity is obtained by combining optical cavity readout systems with…
High-precision time-interval measurement is a fundamental technique in many advanced applications, including time and distance metrology, particle physics, and ultra-precision machining. However, many of these applications are confined by…
This paper presents a novel design for a compact, lightweight 6-axis force/torque sensor intended for use in legged robots. The design promotes easy manufacturing and cost reduction, while introducing innovative calibration methods that…
In cavity optomechanics, radiation pressure and photothermal forces are widely utilized to cool and control micromechanical motion, with applications ranging from precision sensing and quantum information to fundamental science. Here, we…
Experimental methods and procedures required for precision measurements of the Casimir force are presented. In particular, the best practices for obtaining stable cantilevers, calibration of the cantilever, correction of thermal and…
The KWISP opto-mechanical force sensor has been built and calibrated in the INFN Trieste optics laboratory and is now under off-beam commissioning at CAST. It is designed to detect the pressure exerted by a flux of solar Chameleons on a…
Optical tweezers are highly versatile laser traps for neutral microparticles, with fundamental applications in physics and in single molecule cell biology. Force measurements are performed by converting the stiffness response to…
Levitated optomechanical systems are rapidly becoming leading tools for precision sensing of forces and accelerations acting on particles in the femtogram to nanogram mass range. These systems enable a high level of control over the…
Cavity optomechanics offers a versatile platform for both fundamental physics and ultrasensitive sensing. Importantly, resonant enhancement in both optical and mechanical responses enables the highly sensitive optical detection of small…