First observation of quantum spins shifting a centimeter-scale object in the lab
Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology have successfully manipulated a centimeter-scale diamond using quantum electron spin forces. This breakthrough demonstrates quantum effects on macroscopic objects subject to gravity, potentially paving the way for advanced sensors.
Why it matters
It bridges the gap between quantum and classical physics, offering new methods to detect dark matter and gravitational waves.
by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Real-color photo of the lower half of the experimental setup. The diamond with nitrogen-vacancy centers is suspended via a graphite rod above a magnet. When the diamond is illuminated with a green laser, the spin state within the diamond shifts, pushing it down towards the magnet. The diamond glows red due to electrons in the nitrogen-vacancy centers being excited to a higher energy state by the laser. Credit: Cassondra George (OIST) Modern technological breakthroughs like lasers, MRI scanners, semiconductors and quantum computers rest on the study of quantum mechanics. However, the field has predominantly focused on (sub)atomic phenomena far removed from our human senses.
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