Scientists Use Quantum Spin to Move Floating Object
Researchers successfully manipulated a 128-milligram object using magnetic forces derived from quantum electron spins.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Physics
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Scientists have demonstrated a new mechanical movement driven by a quantum effect, using synchronized laser pulses to influence a floating object. The experiment marks a significant step in understanding how gravity interacts with quantum rules by manipulating a heavy mass.
Why it matters
This breakthrough provides a new way to test whether gravity adheres to quantum mechanical principles. By manipulating a macroscopic object with quantum forces, researchers are bridging the gap between small-scale quantum effects and large-scale physical laws.
The study utilized nitrogen-vacancy centers in a 3-millimeter diamond to align electron spins via green laser light, which matched the object's 17.6 hertz resonant frequency. This interaction produced a force exceeding 5 billionths of a newton, causing the 128-milligram object to swing 100 nanometers.
The players
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
This is a graduate university in Okinawa, Japan, that conducts cross-disciplinary research in science and technology.
Institute of Science Tokyo
This institution is a prominent national research university in Japan focused on advanced science and engineering.
The details
Researchers connected a graphite plate to a diamond suspended above a magnet using a carbon fiber rod. Synchronized laser pulses rhythmically tugged on the diamond, generating the force necessary to drive the steady mechanical swings.
Timeline
The study findings were officially published on October 29, 2026.
The experiment builds on the 1920s work of Stern and Gerlach regarding spin-dependent forces.
The Big Picture
This research extends the 1920s Stern-Gerlach experiment by moving from atomic-scale particles to a centimeter-scale object. The discovery shifts scientific understanding by demonstrating that quantum-scale forces can influence objects heavy enough to be observed without specialized equipment.
While this experiment remains in the laboratory, the ability to control heavy objects using quantum forces could eventually lead to new, ultra-precise sensor technologies. Mastering these interactions may provide future foundations for advanced materials science and more sensitive measurement instruments.
The takeaway
This experiment highlights the growing ability of scientists to bridge the gap between microscopic quantum mechanics and the observable physical world. Understanding these forces may one day allow for the manipulation of larger objects with extreme precision.
What happens next
The research team plans to implement microwave control of spins in future trials to increase the magnitude of the force applied to the object.
Further reading
Explore more developments in the Physics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Earth.
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