Multidimensional nonlinear optomechanics of levitated nanosystems

Optomechanics of levitating objects is building its theoretical and experimental foundations in interaction of photons and mechanical states of an object levitating in vacuum. This concept is unique in (i) tunability of key parameters of the optical trap in individual axes leading to desired non-linearity and dimensionality, (ii) relatively massive object oscillating with low friction and interacting with a thermal bath with tunable temperature and (iii) decreasing energy of the object and bringing it closer to the basic quantum state. It is thus possible to obtain an experimental simulator confronting the theoretical models of strong nonlinearities at a fuzzy boundary between classical and quantum physics. Experimentally we focus on a nanoobject (spherical or elongated) oscillating in vacuum in a spatially shaped laser beam determining the interaction potential and object behavior. The proposed project takes full advantage of fruitful theoretical and experimental synergy of theoretical quantum physics group at UP Olomouc (R. Filip) and experimental group at ISI Brno (P. Zemanek).