A microsphere molecule: The interaction of two charged microspheres in a magneto-gravitational trap

Abstract

Optomechanical systems composed of levitated particles in vacuum provide excellent conditions to test the predictions of both classical and quantum physics. While similar in approach, differing experimental setups used to achieve levitation and trapping provide unique parameter regimes for study. In this work, we show that the highly anisotropic and deep potential well provided by a magnetogravitational trap allows the creation of a micrometer-scale "molecule" consisting of two like-charged microspheres in a harmonic potential. We demonstrate the detection and manipulation (excitation and cooling) of two distinct modes of the microsphere molecule motion along the weakest trap axis.