Abstract

Using optical measurements, we demonstrate that the rotation of micron-scale graphene nanoplatelets levitated in a quadrupole ion trap in high vacuum can be frequency-locked to an applied radiofrequency electric field E-rf. Over time, frequency-locking stabilizes the nanoplatelet so that its axis of rotation is normal to the nanoplatelet and perpendicular to E-rf. We observe that residual slow dynamics of the direction of the axis of rotation in the plane normal to E-rf is determined by an applied magnetic field. We present a simple model that accurately describes our observations. From our data and model, we can infer both a diamagnetic polarizability and a magnetic moment proportional to the frequency of rotation, which we compare to theoretical values. Our results establish that trapping technologies have applications for materials measurements at the nanoscale.

Publication Details
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2017
Volume
96
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.96.035402
Journal
Physical Review B
Contributors
Groups