Optical Trapping of Microdisks for Detection of High Frequency Gravitational Waves with the Levitated Sensor Detector

We present an update on the Levitated Sensor Detector (LSD) project for detection of high frequency (10-100kHz) gravitational waves above the region previously probed by LIGO. Motivated sources of gravitational waves in this frequency range include superradiance from QCD axion clouds around black holes. The experiment will make use of optically-levitated flat dielectric micro-scale particles as force sensors with the advantage of reduced photon recoil heating. We therefore discuss analytical and numerical models of the motional dynamics of dielectric microdisks, as well as initial experimental trapping results of SiO₂ microdisks and NaYF₄ hexagonal prisms. Finally, we examine the experimental progress of the 1-meter LSD prototype that is in construction at Northwestern University.