Optomechanics seminars

Markus Aspelmeyer examines whether laboratory experiments can reveal how gravity interacts with quantum matter. Quantum optomechanics offers tools for controlling the motion of solid objects, potentially allowing gravitational sources to occupy spatial superpositions. The seminar reviews trapped-solid experiments, the challenges of detecting gravity at microscopic scales and the requirements for future tests of massive quantum systems.

Vibrations can destroy quantum coherence, but they can also carry useful quantum information. This lecture examines both roles of phonons, including methods for reducing unwanted coupling to solid-state qubits. It introduces optical control of mechanical motion in the quantum regime and discusses applications to precision sensing, connections between different quantum systems and fundamental physics.

Philip Jones traces the development of optical tweezers from early ideas about light exerting force on matter. The lecture follows Kepler’s observations of comet tails, Maxwell’s account of radiation pressure and Ashkin’s trapping experiments. It then examines how a focused light field can isolate and manipulate individual microscopic particles. Applications extend beyond the biological work recognised by the 2018 Nobel Prize to chemical and physical research, where gentle manipulation and isolation from surrounding material provide distinctive experimental tools.