Optical levitation of dielectric nanoparticles is a unique optomechanical platform that combines optical control techniques from atomic physics with the detection methods and size of solid-state objects. Enabled by the realization of motional quantum ground state cooling of a single levitated nanoparticle, the system has shown great promise for quantum metrology, sensing, and studies of non-equilibrium physics.

Recently, we pioneered tweezer arrays of levitated particles that interact through nonreciprocal "optical binding" forces. In this webinar, Uroš Delić will show how already two particles can be used for exploring interesting non-Hermitian dynamics, such as parity-time symmetry breaking and the emergence of collective mechanical lasing. Furthermore, Dr. Delić will discuss how it’s possible to engineer arbitrary two-mode operations between mechanical states of two particles. When placed within a newly built ultrahigh finesse optical cavity, this will allow us to study collective quantum optomechanical effects in the presence of nonreciprocal interactions for the first time.

Subject Matter Level: Introductory - Assumes little previous knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• An overview of the current status and future trends of the field of levitated optomechanics
• Current efforts in the realization of quantum systems consisting of arrays of optically trapped tweezers

Who Should Attend:
• Physicists at any stage of their career with an interest in optomechanics and quantum physics
• Researchers in other disciplines (e.g. biophysics and biology) with an interest in recent advances in the field of optical tweezers

About the Presenter: Uroš Delić from The University of Vienna

Uroš Delić, currently a Senior Scientist, obtained his PhD from the University of Vienna under Prof. Markus Aspelmeyer, pioneering cavity cooling of optically levitated nanoparticles. During his doctoral studies, he was a fellow of the Doctoral program "Complex Quantum Systems" (CoQuS) and a visiting researcher at MIT, funded by the Austrian Marshall Plan Scholarship. Uroš Delić's groundbreaking work earned him the Award of Excellence from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research in 2019. Further awards include the Eurobank EFG Award and the Ministry of Science Scholarship for talented students.