Yoctonewton force detection based on optically levitated oscillator

Optically levitated oscillators in high vacuum have excellent environmental isolation and low mass compared with conventional solid-state sensors, which makes them suitable for ultrasensitive force detection. The force resolution usually scales with the measurement bandwidth, which represents the ultimate detection capability of the system under ideal conditions if sufficient time is provided for measurement. However, considering the stability of a real system, a method based on the Allan variance is more reliable to evaluate the actual force detection performance. In this study, a levitated optomechanical system with a force detection sensitivity of 6.33 +/- 1.62 zN/Hz1/2 was demonstrated. And for the first time, the Allan variance was introduced to evaluate the system stability due to the force sensitivity fluctuations. The force detection resolution of 166.40 +/- 55.48 yN was reached at the optimal measurement time of 2751 s. The system demonstrated in this work has the best force detection performance in both sensitivity and resolution that have been reported so far for optically levitated particles. The reported high-sensitivity force detection system is an excellent candidate for the exploration of new physics such as fifth force searching, high-frequency gravitational waves detection, dark matter research and so on.

Automated summary

Optically levitated oscillators in high vacuum, with their excellent environmental isolation and low mass, are suitable for ultrasensitive force detection. The force detection sensitivity of 6.33 +/- 1.62 zN/Hz1/2 and resolution of 166.40 +/- 55.48 yN were achieved in this study. The system demonstrated the best force detection performance reported so far for optically levitated particles, making it an excellent candidate for various physics explorations.