Scientists from University of Perdi have made a groundbreaking discovery that has astonished the scientific community. They have successfully caused nanodiamonds to levitate and rotate at an incredible speed of 1.2 billion revolutions per minute. This achievement has opened up new possibilities for studying quantum gravity.
The head of the research group, Tongkang, explained the significance of the experiment by describing how tiny diamonds are floating in empty space or vacuum, containing spin cubes that can be used for precise measurements and investigating the connection between quantum mechanics and gravity.
The team initiated the process by creating nanodiamonds measuring about 750 nanometers under high pressure and temperature. The components were then placed in a high vacuum using a superficial ion trap.
The ion trap consisted of a thin layer of gold etched in an omega shape on a sapphire plate. By passing electric current through this gold pattern, an electromagnetic field was produced, causing the nanodiamonds to levitate in a vacuum chamber above the surface.
This setup allowed researchers to observe and manipulate the spin cubes inside the diamond. Kunhong Shen, one of the authors of the experiment, highlighted the ability to adjust the control voltage to change the rotation direction.
The team studied how rotation impacts spin cubes, a phenomenon known as the Berry phase. Shen emphasized that the levitating diamond can rotate around the Z axis, either clockwise or counterclockwise, based on the control signal, illustrating it as a ball of yarn.
By illuminating the nanodiamonds with a green laser, the researchers observed a red glow that revealed the spin states. An additional infrared laser helped track the movement of the levitating nanodiamond, similar to the play of light on a disco ball.
This discovery provides new avenues for exploring how gravity can be understood in quantum terms, addressing a fundamental question that has puzzled physicists for a long time.
Although the speed of rotation achieved by the nanodiamonds is impressive, it falls short of the world record set by the same team, which previously rotated a nano-sized gyroscope up to 300 billion revolutions per minute.
Nevertheless, the implications of this discovery extend to various industries. Micro- and nanoparticles levitating in a vacuum can serve as highly sensitive accelerometers and electric field sensors, potentially revolutionizing navigation and communication systems.