Listen to Peter Barker, Professor in physics at University College London, during the seminar "Tests of fundamental physics with levitated optomechanical systems".
Isolated nanoscale and microscale oscillators levitated in high vacuum, using optical, electric and magnetic fields, represents an emerging platform for precision tests of fundamental physics. In this talk, I will give an overview of the field of levitated optomechanics before describing work that my group is currently undertaking in this field. This includes experiments that are exploring the macroscopic limits of quantum mechanics, as well as directional dark matter searches using the exquisite force sensitivity of these systems. If time permits, I will describe also how our understanding of the dynamics of these levitated oscillators in external fields can be used for a new type of nanoparticle analysis and characterisation.