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arXiv:2607.16592

Quantum dynamics of a levitated ferromagnetic gyroscope

Derek F. Jackson Kimball

quant-phphysics.atom-phSubmitted Jul 18, 2026• Announced Jul 21, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

We develop a quantum model for the rotational dynamics of a freely floating levitated ferromagnetic gyroscope (LFG), emphasizing the interplay between intrinsic spin $\boldsymbol{S}$, mechanical angular momentum $\boldsymbol{L}$, and magnetic torque. The conserved total angular momentum projection along the $z$-directed magnetic field $\boldsymbol{B}$, $J_z=S_z+L_z$, is quantized, leading in the small-libration-amplitude limit to discrete precessional states $|m\rangle$ (eigenstates of $J_z$ with eigenvalues $J_z = m\hbar$) and librational harmonic oscillator states $|n\rangle$ ($n=0,1,2,\ldots$). The discreteness of the energies and dynamical variables is governed by the quantum precession scale $Ω_Q=\hbar/I$, where $I$ is the moment of inertia of the LFG. We find that the phenomenon of LFG precession persists into high-field regimes where the magnitude of the rotational angular momentum associated with precession exceeds the total intrinsic spin. We analyze the complementary quantum limits of localized semiclassical LFG orientation wave packets and exact $J_z$-eigenstates $|m\rangle$, clarifying the relation between classical precession signals and the underlying quantized spin-rotor dynamics. We further show that radio-frequency fields can drive $Δm = \pm 1$ and $Δn = \pm 1$ transitions, enabling ladder spectroscopy, tilt-angle control, and sideband-like coupling between precession and libration. The coupled dynamics also exhibit branch-point magnetic resonances where precession and librational motion become strongly coupled. These results establish a framework for using LFGs not only as ultrasensitive torque and magnetic-field sensors, but also as controllable mesoscopic quantum systems. The techniques developed here may be applied to searches for exotic, beyond-the-standard model spin-dependent interactions, ultralight dark matter, and spin-gravity couplings.

Comments
26 pages, 10 figures

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We develop a quantum model for the rotational dynamics of a freely floating levitated ferromagnetic gyroscope (LFG), emphasizing the interplay between intrinsic spin S\boldsymbol{S}S, mechanical angular momentum L\boldsymbol{L}L, and magnetic torque. The conserved total angular momentum projection along the zzz-directed magnetic field B\boldsymbol{B}B, Jz=Sz+LzJ_z=S_z+L_zJz​=Sz​+Lz​, is quantized, leading in the small-libration-amplitude limit to discrete precessional states ∣m⟩|m\rangle∣m⟩ (eigenstates of JzJ_zJz​ with eigenvalues Jz=mℏJ_z = m\hbarJz​=mℏ) and librational harmonic oscillator states ∣n⟩|n\rangle∣n⟩ (n=0,1,2,…n=0,1,2,\ldotsn=0,1,2,…). The discreteness of the energies and dynamical variables is governed by the quantum precession scale ΩQ=ℏ/IΩ_Q=\hbar/IΩQ​=ℏ/I, where III is the moment of inertia of the LFG. We find that the phenomenon of LFG precession persists into high-field regimes where the magnitude of the rotational angular momentum associated with precession exceeds the total intrinsic spin. We analyze the complementary quantum limits of localized semiclassical LFG orientation wave packets and exact JzJ_zJz​-eigenstates ∣m⟩|m\rangle∣m⟩, clarifying the relation between classical precession signals and the underlying quantized spin-rotor dynamics. We further show that radio-frequency fields can drive Δm=±1Δm = \pm 1Δm=±1 and Δn=±1Δn = \pm 1Δn=±1 transitions, enabling ladder spectroscopy, tilt-angle control, and sideband-like coupling between precession and libration. The coupled dynamics also exhibit branch-point magnetic resonances where precession and librational motion become strongly coupled. These results establish a framework for using LFGs not only as ultrasensitive torque and magnetic-field sensors, but also as controllable mesoscopic quantum systems. The techniques developed here may be applied to searches for exotic, beyond-the-standard model spin-dependent interactions, ultralight dark matter, and spin-gravity couplings.
Levitated systems have great potential in quantum sensing and exploring fundamental physics at the macroscopic scale. Of particular interest are recent works suggesting that a levitated ferromagnet can beat the standard quantum limit of magnetometry, a benchmark for quantum sensors. In this work, we show how a microscopic theory capturing atomic-scale spin-lattice interactions can be used to fully explain the emergence of collective precession dynamics of a levitated ferromagnet and the origin of its enhanced magnetometric sensitivity beyond that of independent spins. Our theory further takes us to two innovative experimental designs of immediate interest: measurement of the celebrated Berry phase with a precessing ferromagnetic needle and the use of its nutation motion to sense a low-frequency oscillating magnetic field. With a microscopic theory established for levitated ferromagnetic needles, future studies of macroscopic quantum effects and the associated quantum-classical transition also become possible.
Levitated systems have great potential in quantum sensing and exploring quantum effects at the macroscopic scale. Of particular interest are recent works suggesting that a levitated ferromagnet can beat the standard quantum limit of magnetometry. This work offers a theoretical model to analyze and understand critical features of the precessing dynamics of a levitated ferromagnetic needle, indeed much like a macrospin, in the presence of a weak magnetic field. The dynamics from the atomic scale reveals how the standard quantum limit is surpassed, thus verifying sensing advantages when compared with a collection of independent spins. Our theory further takes us to two additional experimental designs of immediate interest: measurement of the celebrated Berry phase with a precessing ferromagnetic needle and the use of its nutation motion to sense a low-frequency oscillating magnetic field. With a microscopic theory established for levitated ferromagnetic needles, future studies of macroscopic quantum effects and the associated quantum-classical transition also become possible.
Levitation of microscopic objects in vacuum combines exceptional environmental isolation with precise control of their dynamics, pushing the limits of sensing and macroscopic quantum physics. In particular, magnetic levitation allows a large range of particle sizes, while avoiding detrimental effects from high-intensity optical trapping beams and electric field noise. However, existing diamagnetic and Meissner levitation approaches are typically constrained by low mechanical eigenfrequencies, limited integrability with other systems due to bulky coils or magnets, and, for Meissner levitation, the need for cryogenic operation. Here, we demonstrate a room-temperature on-chip magnetic levitation platform capable of stably levitating a nanogram (6.5 micrometer radius) ferromagnetic microsphere. The platform is scalable and tunable, and supports librational modes with eigenfrequencies exceeding 10 kHz. Further miniaturization and coupling to solid-state spin qubits could enable cooling to the quantum ground state. Beyond quantum experiments, this architecture enables integrated precision sensing and studies of isolated ferromagnet thermodynamics.
Ahrens and Vinante recently measured gyroscopic spin-rotation coupling between two librational modes of a nonspinning, superconductively levitated hard-ferromagnet microsphere. The measured coupling provides a direct experimental relation between the magnetic moment μ\muμ and the collective intrinsic angular momentum SSS associated with the particle magnetization. This study independently reconstructs the central experimental observable from the complete public archive. All five deposited MD5 checksums are verified, and all 315 two-channel traces are analyzed using the correlation model specified in the experimental supplement. Three of the four reconstructed Einstein--de Haas frequencies fIf_IfI​ agree with the published central values to within 0.30.3%0.3. Dataset 1, which contains the smallest measured quadrature ratio, reconstructs 17.417.4%17.4 above the published central value but remains consistent within 1.241.241.24 combined standard deviations. An inverse-variance fit to the four published material factors gives gmat=1.16263±0.02578g_{\mathrm{mat}}=1.16263\pm0.02578gmat​=1.16263±0.02578, corresponding to Γmat=gmat/2=0.58131±0.01289\Gamma_{\mathrm{mat}}=g_{\mathrm{mat}}/2=0.58131\pm0.01289Γmat​=gmat​/2=0.58131±0.01289. The size-scaling quantity fIR2/Mf_I R^2/MfI​R2/M is consistent with a common material factor across the four experimental configurations, with χ2=0.969\chi^2=0.969χ2=0.969 for three degrees of freedom and p=0.809p=0.809p=0.809 under the stated independence approximation. The experimental result is registered in Quantum Measurement Units using angm=h=meλC2Fq\mathrm{angm}=h=m_e{\lambda_C}^2F_qangm=h=me​λC​2Fq​, magm=eemax2λC2Fq\mathrm{magm}={e_\mathrm{emax}}^2{\lambda_C}^2F_qmagm=eemax​2λC​2Fq​, mchg=me/eemax2\mathrm{mchg}=m_e/{e_\mathrm{emax}}^2mchg=me​/eemax​2, and ccf=eemax2/e\mathrm{ccf}={e_\mathrm{emax}}^2/eccf=eemax​2/e. These definitions produce the exact correlations magm/angm=1/mchg\mathrm{magm}/\mathrm{angm}=1/\mathrm{mchg}magm/angm=1/mchg and ccf mchg=me/e\mathrm{ccf}\,\mathrm{mchg}=m_e/eccfmchg=me​/e. The resulting dimensionless QMU registration is ΓQMU=(μ ccf/magm)/(S/angm)=g/2=(μ ccf/S)mchg\Gamma_{\mathrm{QMU}}=(\mu\,\mathrm{ccf}/\mathrm{magm})/(S/\mathrm{angm})=g/2=(\mu\,\mathrm{ccf}/S)\mathrm{mchg}ΓQMU​=(μccf/magm)/(S/angm)=g/2=(μccf/S)mchg. For a spherical particle, the experimental closure becomes ΓQMU=5M ccf mchg/(4πρR2fI)=5Mme/(4πρR2fIe)\Gamma_{\mathrm{QMU}}=5M\,\mathrm{ccf}\,\mathrm{mchg}/(4\pi\rho R^2f_I)=5Mm_e/(4\pi\rho R^2f_Ie)ΓQMU​=5Mccfmchg/(4πρR2fI​)=5Mme​/(4πρR2fI​e). This expresses the measured gyroscopic coupling as a dimensionless ratio of magnetic moment and angular momentum while preserving an exact bridge to the experimentally reported quantities. Public composition reports for commercial Magnequench MQP-S-11-9-20001 powder are converted from weight percent to atomic percent and evaluated with the deliberately simplified constituent model used in the source study. The resulting composition controls give gctrl=1.3647g_{\mathrm{ctrl}}=1.3647gctrl​=1.3647--1.39521.39521.3952 and Γctrl=0.6823\Gamma_{\mathrm{ctrl}}=0.6823Γctrl​=0.6823--0.69760.69760.6976. Within this model, agreement with the measured value requires the rare-earth share of modeled angular momentum to increase from approximately 0.480.480.48--0.500.500.50 to approximately 0.6610.6610.661. The equivalent transition-metal participation factor is βTM=0.468\beta_{\mathrm{TM}}=0.468βTM​=0.468--0.5160.5160.516. The QMU identity ΓQMU=g/2\Gamma_{\mathrm{QMU}}=g/2ΓQMU​=g/2 is an exact registration of the measured observable rather than an independent material prediction. A predictive Aether Physics Model calculation must determine the species- and phase-resolved magnetic-moment and angular-momentum population sums before comparison with the experiment. The paper therefore defines the numerical target, identifies the principal material-participation constraint, and proposes composition, phase, temperature, particle-metrology, and blind-registration experiments capable of distinguishing competing closures. The deposit includes the complete paper, Overleaf-compatible LaTeX source, publication figures, machine-readable result summaries, composition inputs, claims ledger, figure-regeneration code, and package-validation report.
Magnetically trapped type-I superconductors are promising candidates for precision experiments at the quantum-to-classical borderline, with applications in quantum sensing of forces and accelerations and fundamental tests of quantum physics. Here, we show how the rotational motion of micron-sized superconductors is strongly affected by (i) the diamagnetic torques due to the gradient of the trapping field and by (ii) the gyromagnetic coupling due to Einstein-de Haas and Barnett effects. We show that this allows the three-dimensional alignment of asperhical superconductors in the trap center, as required for future sensing applications and quantum experiments, and determine the resulting librational trapping frequencies. Finally, we propose an experiment to probe gyromagnetic coupling in levitated superconductors and we discuss how it can be used to control the particle rotation.
Magnetic levitation offer passive levitation of massive objects for use in advanced inertia sensors, for the generation of non-classical macroscopic motional states, and towards the table-top testing of low energy gravity with quantum mechanics. Magnons, a quanta of spin wave, couple to many physical quantities and strongly to electromagnetic fields, even at room temperature. In this work we demonstrate the stable trapping of a small YIG sphere using a magnetic Paul trap. We present a classical stability analysis of a magnetic Paul trap and show the stability diagram for all mechanical degrees of freedom. We show that coupling between librational and translational modes changes the stability region. We experimentally levitate the soft magnet yttrium iron garnet at room temperature obtaining Q-factors of ∼25\sim25∼25 and secular frequencies 15.815.815.8 Hz and 17.217.217.2 Hz. We provide numerical estimates of the achievable enhanced coupling between the center-of-mass motion and excited magnon modes, with a cooperativity above unity despite strong mechanical damping, indicating potential applications in quantum information processing, quantum interconnects and quantum memories.