LeviNet - Levitation Network for Advanced Quantum Technologies

**微机械系统在量子通信和传感技术中发挥着关键作用。由于耗散到环境中，它们的灵敏度和相干性迅速降低。悬浮打破了这一途径，允许自由量子进化和极端灵敏度。** 2018年，亚瑟·阿什金（Arthur Ashkin）因开发光学镊子而获得诺贝尔物理学奖；利用光控制微观物体运动的技术。其适用范围从单个原子到纳米和微粒，再到细胞等生物物体。这项技术使原子气体的量子控制成为可能，现在被用于尖端的重力和磁场传感器，光学镊子在医学科学中无处不在，例如用于检测糖尿病。2010年，英国、美国和奥地利的研究小组同时提出，利用聚焦激光束控制悬浮在真空中的纳米粒子，使其进入量子态是可能的。这将是一项惊人的壮举，因为纳米物体比任何其他物体都要大很多个数量级，才能表现出量子行为。在最初的提议整整10年后，LeviNet的成员通过实验实现了这一目标。将大质量物体（与原子相比）冷却到量子状态的可取之处有两个方面：它为探索基本量子物理学开辟了道路，而且由于它们的行为像机械振荡器一样，它们可以参与先进的量子技术。光学捕获粒子的精确控制被称为悬浮光力学。英国对这一不断发展的学科表示了大力支持，在全球6500万英镑的投资中，英国投资了1400万英镑。随着世界各地的团体实现量子悬浮系统，并开发强大的支持技术，通过集中和密集的知识共享计划，英国在这一点上仍然是量子应用的决定性参与者，这是关键。LeviNet汇集了世界上所有的主要参与者来实现这一目标。通过提供全成员会议，将交流关键信息，并建立研究人员和工业界之间的新合作。具体问题将在研讨会和为期一天的在线焦点小组中作为一个社区来解决。年轻的研究人员将有机会通过参加其他研究小组的短期科学任务来学习新技能和分享知识。

** Micro-mechanical systems play a key role in quantum communication & sensing technologies. Their sensitivity & coherence rapidly degrade as they shrink due to dissipation to the environment. Levitation breaks this pathway, allowing free quantum evolution & extreme sensitivity.**In 2018, Arthur Ashkin was joint-awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the development of optical tweezers; a technique for controlling the motion of microscopic objects using light. The applicability ranges from single atoms, through nano- and micro-particles, to biological objects such as cells. This technology has enables the quantum control of gases of atoms, which are now used in cutting-edge gravity- and magnetic field- sensors, and optical tweezers are ubiquitous in the medical sciences for example to test for diabetes.In 2010, groups in the UK, USA and Austria simultaneously proposed that it should be possible to control nanoparticles, levitated in a vacuum using focussed laser beams, so well that they would enter the quantum regime. This would be an astounding feat, since nano-objects are many orders of magnitude larger than any other object to have displayed quantum behaviour. Exactly 10 years after the initial proposal, this goal was experimentally realised by LeviNet members. The desirability of cooling massive objects (compared to atoms) to the quantum regime is two-fold: it opens the path to exploring fundamental quantum physics, and since they behave as mechanical oscillators they can participate in advanced quantum technologies. The precision control of optically trapped particles is known as levitated optomechanics. The UK has shown strong support for this growing discipline, investing £14M of a global £65M investment. As groups around the world realise quantum levitated systems, and develop robust supporting technologies, it is key that the UK remains a decisive player at this point of proven quantum application, through a focussed and intensive programme of knowledge-sharing. LeviNet brings together all the key players in the world to realise this goal. Key information will be communicated, and new collaborations between researchers and industry founded, through the provision of all-member conferences. Specific problems will be tackled as a community at workshops and 1-day online focus-groups. Younger researchers will get the opportunity to learn new skills and share knowledge by participating in short scientific missions to other research groups.