In the quantum world, observing a particle is not a passive act. If you shine light on a quantum object to measure its position, photons scatter off it and disturb its motion. This disturbance is known as quantum backaction noise, and it limits how precisely physicists can observe or control delicate quantum systems.
Physicists at Swansea University have now proposed a technique that could eliminate quantum backaction noise in optical traps, allowing a particle to remain suspended in space undisturbed. This would bring substantial benefits for quantum sensors, as the amount of noise in a system determines how precisely a sensor can measure forces such as gravity; detect as-yet-unseen interactions between gravity and quantum mechanics; and perhaps even search for evidence of dark matter.
There’s just one catch: for the technique to work, the particle needs to become invisible.
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