Searching for non-Newtonian gravity at the micron scale with laser-cooled nanospheres

Several theories beyond the standard model predict the deviation of gravity from the Newtonian model at short range. An optically levitated and cooled silica nanosphere in vacuum has a high quality factor resulting in ultrahigh sensitivity; hence it provides a promising tool to measure such deviations [1]. I will discuss the experiment we are developing to test non-Newtonian gravity at the micron length scale. In addition, I will also present the prospect of sensing short-range forces between a surface and a free falling nanosphere in a Talbot matter-wave interferometer [2].\\[4pt] [1] Andrew A. Geraci, Scott B. Papp, John Kitching, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105,101101 (2010).\\[0pt] [2] Andrew A. Geraci, Hart Goldman, arXiv:1412.4482(2014).