A material change for ultra-high precision force sensing

Abstract

Abstract An original form of photonic force microscope has been developed. Operating with a trapped lanthanide-doped crystal of nanometric dimensions, a minimum detected force of the order of 110 aN and a force sensitivity down to 1.8 fN/ $$\sqrt{{\rm{Hz}}}$$ Hz have been realised. This opens up new prospects for force sensing in the physical sciences.