Magnetic levitation and spatial superposition of a nanodiamond with a current-carrying chip
We propose a current-carrying-chip scheme for generating spatial quantum superpositions using a levitating nanodiamond with a built-in nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre defect. Our setup is quite versatile and we aim to create the superposition for a mass range of $10^{-19}~{\rm kg}< m< 10^{-15}~{\rm kg}$ and a superposition size ${\cal O}(10) {\rm μm} < Δx < {\cal O}(1){\rm nm}$, respectively, in $t\leq 0.1$s, depending on the position we launch from the center of the diamagnetic trap. We provide an in-depth analysis of two parallel chips that can create levitation and spatial superposition along the $x$-axis, while producing a very tight trap in the $y$ direction, and the direction of gravity, i.e., the $z$ direction. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our setup can create a one-dimensional spatial superposition state along the x-axis. Throughout this process, the particle is stably levitated in the z-direction, and its motion is effectively confined in the y-direction for a Gaussian initial condition. This setup presents a viable platform for a diamagnetically levitated nanoparticle for a table-top experiment exploring the possibility of creating a macroscopic Schrödinger Cat state to test the quantum gravity induced entanglement of masses (QGEM) protocol.
Authors
- Sougato Bose (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8726-0566)
- Andrew A. Geraci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7009-0118)
- Shafaq Gulzar Elahi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3671-692X)
- Anupam Mazumdar
- Qian Xiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5758-5137)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review A
- Published
- 2026-10-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/xh3t-sspj
- Primary Topic
- Mechanical and Optical Resonators
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- W. M. Keck Foundation
- John Templeton Foundation
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Office of Naval Research