Scientists Develop World's Fastest Spinning Object That Revolves at 300 Billion Rpm

Researchers recently developed the world's fastest man-made rotor, which they believe will aid in their research into quantum mechanics. A dumbbell-shaped nanoparticle powered solely by the force and torque of light has become the fastest-spinning object in the world, which revolves at 300 billion revolutions per minute.

A team of Purdue University researchers recently broke their own 2018 world record for building the planet's fastest-spinning object. Scientists created a miniature machine capable of demonstrating 60 billion revolutions per minute at the time, but they've blown past that mark with their latest endeavor.

"This study has many applications, including material science. We can study the extreme conditions different materials can survive in," said Tongcang Li, an assistant professor at Purdue University in the United States.

The research was published in Nature Nanotechnology.

According to the paper, university researchers created a silica nanoparticle that resembles two small spheres attached side by side. These customized nanoparticles were first diluted in water and then shot into the air using an ultrasonic nebulizer using delicate laser manipulation of the special nanoparticles. One laser was used to hold the nanodumbell in place, while another gently applied torque to start the rotation.

This set a world record for the fastest-spinning human-made object.

The laser can work in either a straight line or a circle; when linear, the dumbbell vibrates; when circular, the dumbbell spins.

A spinning dumbbell acts as a rotor, and a vibrating dumbbell acts as a torsion balance, an instrument for measuring tiny forces and torques.

According to scientists, while one cannot physically feel it, it produces light radiation pressure, which is a million times weaker than gravity. This force is said to be capable of powering satellites with light sails.

"People say that there is nothing in a vacuum, but in physics, we know it's not really empty," Li said.

Li also added, "There are a lot of virtual particles which may stay for a short time and then disappear. We want to figure out what's really going on there, and that's why we want to make the most sensitive torsion balance."

According to scientists, the new nano rotor can measure torque at 600–700 times more sensitive than any previous device. The nano-torque detector could also be used to measure related effects such as the Casimir effect and nanoscale magnetism, allowing engineers to develop and control nanoelectronic devices in the future.