New approach for hte detection of short range Yukawa-like interactions

The search for Yukawa-like interactions beyond Newtonian gravity at short separations lacks sensitive enough experiments for interactions in the 10 nm to 1 mm range. In this presentation a new approach where a semiconducting nanocrystal is trapped and cooled down to its ground state in the trapping potential will be presented. An engineered sample with a cylindrical mass density distribution has been developed such that when it is rotated, if a given short range interaction exists, would provide a p-pulse for the nanocrystal excitation to the first excited state. The attractor mass density variations are accomplished by precise machining of a stainless steel body using two spatial frequencies and a Gaussian envelope. The sample is then backfilled with a low density plastic and capped with a Au film. Measurements of the |g> to |e> transition (or lack thereof) would provide up to three orders of magnitude improvement with respect to existing results. Experimental details, as why the use of optical refrigeration in the nanocrystal allows to reach the quantum limit, how the engineered sample is also part of an optical cavity for sideband cooling, and also how this allows the Casimir force to be uniform, but still leaves surface patch potential heating as an issue, will be described.