J. Yan, Integrated levitated optomechanical sensors

Staff

Lead researcher

Professor Jize Yan

Professor

Research interests

Prof. Jize Yan is a Professor of Sensor Technology and Microsystem at the University of Southampton. He received his first degree from Tsinghua University in China and his PhD from the University of Cambridge. As PI or co-I, he has secured over £14Mn research grants from various sources. He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications, over 10 patents and several best paper awards. He has a track record in technology transfer (to Silicon Microgravity, NXP Semiconductors, and Cementation Skanska) and spin-out companies (8power, Wisen Innovation, and Traco).
His research in Sensor Technology and Microsystem has achieved several world records and generated scientific innovations to cultivate commercial success. He has a research team over 10 PhD students and Post-Docs and collaboration with leaders of various industrial and academic backgrounds to address significant industry challenges and profound scientific questions.
For significant industry challenges, his research focuses on sensing for infrastructure safety, sensing for clean energy, sensing for geoscience and geoengineering, and cleanroom fabrication. For profound scientific questions, his research serves as a testbed for theoretical predictions and provides empirical evidence to explore possible limitations of quantum theory, such as those predicted by holographic duality and collapse models, and eventually, the interplay between quantum theory and gravity. His research will further the understanding of precise gravity measurements for gravitational wave detectors and hypothetical particles for Dark Matter.

Email: j.yan@southampton.ac.uk

Other researchers

Professor Hendrik Ulbricht

Professor of Physics

Research interests

Hendrik's main research interests concern experimental tests of fundamental theories of Nature by table-top experiments but also in space. Some tests are concerned with the large mass limit of the quantum superposition principle, which forms the basis of quantum mechanics. Other experiments are concerned with testing the interplay between quantum mechanics and gravitation in the low energy limit.
The Ulbricht group performs quantum experimental research on the preparation and analysis of massive systems in non-classical states by various techniques. They pioneer so-called levitated opto- and magneto-mechanics experiments, where light and magnetic fields are used to both trap and control nano- and micro-particles in vacuum. Please see the Ulbricht group webpages for more details.

Email: h.ulbricht@soton.ac.uk