Publications

A selection of our work on levitated optomechanics, macroscopic quantum superpositions, and thermodynamics far from equilibrium. Highlighted entries (★) received an editorial distinction.

• P. Illetschek, G. Fedorovich, A. Seredin, G. Tselikov, V. S. Volkov, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, M. Petrov, A. V. Zasedatelev, Dark optical trapping of resonant transition-metal dichalcogenide particles, arXiv:2607.09896
• M. A. Ciampini, J. Rieser, N. Kiesel, A. Dechant, Entropy production and non-Gaussianity of fast processes at weak damping, arXiv:2511.22079

2026

• V. Mlynář, S. Dago, J. Rieser, M. A. Ciampini, M. Aspelmeyer, N. Kiesel, A. Kugi, A. Deutschmann-Olek, Feedback stabilization of a nanoparticle at the intensity minimum of an optical double-well potential, Control Engineering Practice 168, 106665 (2026), doi:10.1016/j.conengprac.2025.106665
• Roadmap on quantum thermodynamics, Quantum Sci. Technol. 11, 012501 (2026), doi:10.1088/2058-9565/ae1e27

2025

• ★ M. A. Ciampini, T. Wenzl, M. Konopik, G. Thalhammer, M. Aspelmeyer, E. Lutz, N. Kiesel, Experimental nonequilibrium memory erasure beyond Landauer’s bound, Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043321 (2025), doi:10.1103/r81x-zblx
• D. Steiner, Y. Y. Fein, G. Meier, S. Lindner, P. Juschitz, M. A. Ciampini, M. Aspelmeyer, N. Kiesel, Free expansion of a charged nanoparticle via electrostatic compensation, Appl. Phys. Lett. 127, 191103 (2025), doi:10.1063/5.0303460

2024

• S. Dago, J. Rieser, M. A. Ciampini, V. Mlynář, A. Kugi, M. Aspelmeyer, A. Deutschmann-Olek, N. Kiesel, Stabilizing nanoparticles in the intensity minimum: feedback levitation on an inverted potential, Optics Express 32, 45133 (2024), doi:10.1364/OE.541267
• M. Debiossac, N. Kiesel, E. Lutz, Convergence to the asymptotic large deviation limit, Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 047101 (2024), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.047101
• S. Lindner, P. Juschitz, J. Rieser, Y. Y. Fein, M. A. Ciampini, M. Aspelmeyer, N. Kiesel, Hollow-core fiber loading of nanoparticles into ultra-high vacuum, Appl. Phys. Lett. 124, 143501 (2024), doi:10.1063/5.0190658
• L. Neumeier, M. A. Ciampini, O. Romero-Isart, M. Aspelmeyer, N. Kiesel, Fast quantum interference of a nanoparticle via optical potential control, PNAS 121, e2306953121 (2024), doi:10.1073/pnas.2306953121

2022

• ★ J. Rieser, M. A. Ciampini, H. Rudolph, N. Kiesel, K. Hornberger, B. A. Stickler, M. Aspelmeyer, U. Delić, Tunable light-induced dipole-dipole interaction between optically levitated nanoparticles, Science 377, 987–990 (2022), doi:10.1126/science.abp9941
• M. Debiossac, M. L. Rosinberg, E. Lutz, N. Kiesel, Non-Markovian feedback control and acausality: an experimental study, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 200601 (2022), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.200601
• Q. Wu, L. Mancino, M. Carlesso, M. A. Ciampini, L. Magrini, N. Kiesel, M. Paternostro, Nonequilibrium quantum thermodynamics of a particle trapped in a controllable time-varying potential, PRX Quantum 3, 010322 (2022), doi:10.1103/PRXQuantum.3.010322
• M. Rademacher, M. Konopik, M. Debiossac, D. Grass, E. Lutz, N. Kiesel, Nonequilibrium control of thermal and mechanical changes in a levitated system, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 070601 (2022), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.070601

2021

• L. Magrini, P. Rosenzweig, C. Bach, A. Deutschmann-Olek, S. G. Hofer, S. Hong, N. Kiesel, A. Kugi, M. Aspelmeyer, Real-time optimal quantum control of mechanical motion at room temperature, Nature 595, 373–377 (2021), doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03602-3

2020

• ★ U. Delić, M. Reisenbauer, K. Dare, D. Grass, V. Vuletić, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, Cooling of a levitated nanoparticle to the motional quantum ground state, Science 367, 892–895 (2020), doi:10.1126/science.aba3993
• U. Delić, D. Grass, M. Reisenbauer, T. Damm, M. Weitz, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, Levitated cavity optomechanics in high vacuum, Quantum Sci. Technol. 5, 025006 (2020), doi:10.1088/2058-9565/ab7989
• A. A. Rakhubovsky, D. W. Moore, U. Delić, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, R. Filip, Detecting nonclassical correlations in levitated cavity optomechanics, Phys. Rev. Applied 14, 054052 (2020), doi:10.1103/PhysRevApplied.14.054052
• ★ M. Konopik, A. Friedenberger, N. Kiesel, E. Lutz, Nonequilibrium information erasure below kT ln 2, EPL 131, 60004 (2020) — Editor’s Choice, doi:10.1209/0295-5075/131/60004
• M. Debiossac, D. Grass, J. J. Alonso, E. Lutz, N. Kiesel, Thermodynamics of continuous non-Markovian feedback control, Nature Communications 11, 1360 (2020), doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15148-5

2019

• ★ U. Delić, M. Reisenbauer, D. Grass, N. Kiesel, V. Vuletić, M. Aspelmeyer, Cavity cooling of a levitated nanosphere by coherent scattering, Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 123602 (2019) — Editor’s Choice & APS Viewpoint, doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.123602

2018

• ★ M. Brunelli, L. Fusco, R. Landig, W. Wieczorek, J. Hoelscher-Obermaier, G. Landi, F. L. Semião, A. Ferraro, N. Kiesel, T. Donner, G. De Chiara, M. Paternostro, Experimental determination of irreversible entropy production in out-of-equilibrium mesoscopic quantum systems, Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 160604 (2018) — Editors’ Suggestion & APS Synopsis, doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.160604

2017

• ★ A. Dechant, N. Kiesel, E. Lutz, Underdamped stochastic heat engine at maximum efficiency, EPL 119, 50003 (2017) — Editor’s Choice, doi:10.1209/0295-5075/119/50003

2016

• D. Grass, J. Fesel, S. Hofer, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, Optical trapping and control of nanoparticles inside evacuated hollow core photonic crystal fibers, Appl. Phys. Lett. 108, 221103 (2016), doi:10.1063/1.4953025

2015

• A. Dechant, N. Kiesel, E. Lutz, All-optical nanomechanical heat engine, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 183602 (2015), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.183602
• M. Brunelli, A. Xuereb, A. Ferraro, G. De Chiara, N. Kiesel, M. Paternostro, Out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics of quantum optomechanical systems, New J. Phys. 17, 035016 (2015), doi:10.1088/1367-2630/17/3/035016

2014

• G. Hechenblaikner, F. Hufgard, J. Burkhardt, N. Kiesel, U. Johann, M. Aspelmeyer, R. Kaltenbaek, How cold can you get in space? Quantum physics at cryogenic temperatures in space, New J. Phys. 16, 013058 (2014), doi:10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013058

2013

• ★ N. Kiesel, F. Blaser, U. Delić, D. Grass, R. Kaltenbaek, M. Aspelmeyer, Cavity cooling of an optically levitated submicron particle, PNAS 110, 14180–14185 (2013), doi:10.1073/pnas.1309167110
• W. Lechner, S. J. M. Habraken, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, P. Zoller, Cavity optomechanics of levitated nanodumbbells: non-equilibrium phases and self-assembly, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 143604 (2013), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.143604

2012

• R. Kaltenbaek, G. Hechenblaikner, N. Kiesel, O. Romero-Isart, K. C. Schwab, U. Johann, M. Aspelmeyer, Macroscopic quantum resonators (MAQRO), Experimental Astronomy 34, 123–164 (2012), doi:10.1007/s10686-012-9292-3

2011

• O. Romero-Isart, A. C. Pflanzer, F. Blaser, R. Kaltenbaek, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, J. I. Cirac, Large quantum superpositions and interference of massive nanometer-sized objects, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 020405 (2011), doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.020405
• O. Romero-Isart, A. C. Pflanzer, M. L. Juan, R. Quidant, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, J. I. Cirac, Optically levitating dielectrics in the quantum regime: theory and protocols, Phys. Rev. A 83, 013803 (2011), doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.83.013803

2010

• U. Akram, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, G. J. Milburn, Single-photon opto-mechanics in the strong coupling regime, New J. Phys. 12, 083030 (2010), doi:10.1088/1367-2630/12/8/083030
• D. Brodoceanu, G. D. Cole, N. Kiesel, M. Aspelmeyer, D. Bäuerle, Femtosecond laser fabrication of high reflectivity micromirrors, Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 041104 (2010), doi:10.1063/1.3467846
• M. Aspelmeyer, S. Gröblacher, K. Hammerer, N. Kiesel, Quantum optomechanics — throwing a glance (invited), J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27, A189 (2010), doi:10.1364/JOSAB.27.00A189

• N. Kiesel, E. Lutz, News & Views: Nanoparticles jumping high, Nature Nanotechnology 12, 1119–1120 (2017), doi:10.1038/nnano.2017.219
• N. Kiesel, W. Wieczorek, S. Gröblacher, M. Aspelmeyer, Licht macht Druck, Physik in unserer Zeit 42, 276–284 (2011), doi:10.1002/piuz.201101283