Science A 475 - Physics Lab Monday, September 19, 2022, 4 – 5pm “Probing Fundamental Physics with Levitated Force Sensors” by Dr. Chas Blakemore Stanford University Microspheres were the first objects optically levitated by Arthur Ashkin in the 1970s. While the technology itself was successfully used to trap atoms to explore new physics, the actual utilization of microspheres and other macroscopic objects as a useful tool for physics has emerged only in recent years. The unique properties of those levitated objects allows for deploying them as sensors with unique properties and advantages. In this talk I will show recent demonstrations of the capabilities of microspheres as force sensors to probe charges far below the size of the elementary charge and how we can probe for new forces coupling to mass at short ranges. I will also discuss what is limiting the sensitivity to reach an actual measurement of the Newtonian gravitational force at scales below 40 μm, and glimpse into recent advances in understanding the levitodynamics of the microspheres. Event Title: “Probing Fundamental Physics with Levitated Force Sensors” Organization: PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY Categories: Featured Event, Open To The Public, Student, Publish to Department Calendar