Leiden University Student Repository

Winter, Myrthe de (2025)

Towards spin experiments with magnetic resonance force microscopy: characterizing frequency shifts and frequency uncertainties

Bachelor thesis | Natuurkunde (BSc)

A way to test models of spontaneous wavefunction collapse is through the creation of a macroscopic quantum superposition. A potential method for achieving such a superposition involves coupling a cantilever to a sin- gle spin in superposition using Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM). As an initial step towards this goal, it is necessary to be able to detect spins through cantilever frequency shifts. In this thesis, we present a method for positioning the cantilever. We find an inverse relation be- tween the cantilever’s driving voltage and its frequency uncertainty. We also observe that frequency uncertainty depends on the cantilever’s posi- tion, but shows no clear dependence on temperature. Finally, we develop a model to describe frequency shifts due to the Meissner effect, but show that it does not align with experimental observations.

Author

Winter, Myrthe de

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Supervisors

Oosterkamp, T.H.

ECTS Credits

24

Language

en