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.

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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

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article

Magnetic levitation and spatial superposition of a nanodiamond with a current-carrying chip

Sougato Bose, Andrew A. Geraci, Shafaq Gulzar Elahi, Anupam Mazumdar et al.
Physical Review A
Mechanical and Optical Resonators
article

Magnetic levitation and spatial superposition of a nanodiamond with a current-carrying chip

Sougato Bose, Andrew A. Geraci, Shafaq Gulzar Elahi, Anupam Mazumdar, Qian Xiang
article en

Abstract

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.

Physical Review A
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
Openalex Percentile: Top 94%
Mechanical and Optical Resonators
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