Phonon lasers, pivotal in the field of quantum research, have been successfully developed to trap and levitate nanoparticles in the laboratory led by Nick Vamivakas, the Marie C. Wilson and Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Optical Physics at the University of Rochester.

Since their inception in the 1960s, lasers have revolutionised scientific discovery and everyday applications, ranging from grocery store scanners to corrective eye surgery. Traditional lasers operate on photons—discrete particles of light. However, over the past two decades, researchers have pioneered lasers that manipulate other fundamental particles, such as phonons—particles representing vibrations or sound. The ability to control phonons may unlock further possibilities, leveraging unique quantum properties like entanglement.

A recent advancement from researchers at the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology has introduced a squeezed phonon laser, which offers unprecedented control over phonons at the nanoscale. This innovation is set to enhance our understanding of gravity, particle acceleration, and quantum mechanics. In their publication in Nature Communications, the researchers elaborate on their methods to coax individual particles of mechanical motion to function akin to a laser.

In 2019, Vamivakas and his team first showcased a phonon laser by employing an optical tweezer to trap and levitate phonons within a vacuum. To enhance the practicality of this technology for precise measurements, they addressed a significant challenge that affects both photon and phonon lasers: noise. Noise, or unwanted disturbances, complicates the accurate reading of signals.

As Vamivakas explains, “While a laser appears to emit a steady beam, it is subject to fluctuations that generate noise during measurement.” By strategically manipulating the phonon laser with light, the team significantly mitigated these fluctuations.

The researchers successfully squeezed, or reduced, the thermal noise that is inherent to the phonon laser. This reduction in noise enables measurements of acceleration with a level of accuracy that surpasses traditional techniques reliant on photon lasers or radio frequency waves.

Vamivakas envisions that the phonon laser could facilitate highly precise measurements of gravity and other forces, which would be invaluable for applications such as navigation. The concept of quantum compasses, which offer more accurate and ‘unjammable’ alternatives to GPS navigation without reliance on satellites, is an intriguing possibility. Vamivakas is particularly interested in determining whether the phonon laser might serve as a foundational step towards such advanced systems.

This groundbreaking research has received support from the National Science Foundation.

For further information regarding funding opportunities in the field of quantum research, please refer to the National Science Foundation’s funding page.