JOSA B Feature Announcement

Levitated Optomechanics: Fundamental Physics and Applications

Submission Opens: 1 December 2016
Submission Deadline: 15 January 2017

This feature issue of JOSA B will explore the use of levitated nanoparticles in optomechanics—an emerging field on the frontier of physics that deals with the interaction of electromagnetic fields with mechanical motion. Levitation offers the prospect of isolating the nanoparticle almost completely from the environment, thus eliminating clamping losses. Initial demonstrations have consisted of laser cooling, optical thermometry, hybrid systems, and optical measurements of nonequilibrium dynamics. A variety of experimental implementations have included optically trapped dielectric particles, nitrogen vacancy centers in nanodiamonds, charged graphene flakes confined in quadrupole traps, and magnetic nanospheres levitated above superconducting circuits.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Mesoscopic systems in the quantum regime for exploration of non-classicality, the quantum-classical boundary, and collapse theories;
• Nanoscale classical and quantum thermodynamics and statistical mechanics;
• Leveraging low dissipation and large mechanical quality factors for high-resolution force metrology;
• New features of nano-optomechanics uncovered by these untethered mechanical resonators;
• New theoretical challenges in understanding this nonconventional nano-optomechanical platform;
• Prospects for hybrid quantum systems based on this modality.

All papers need to present original, previously unpublished work, and will be subject to the normal standards and peer-review processes of the journal. Manuscripts must be prepared according to the usual standards for submission to JOSA B and uploaded through OSA's electronic submission system, specifying from the drop-down menu that the manuscript is for the Feature Issue on "Levitated Optomechanics" feature (choose from the feature issue drop-down menu).

Feature Issue Editors

Peter Barker, University College London, UK
Mishkat Bhattacharya, Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
Nick Vamivakas, University of Rochester, NY