title: Probing deformed commutators with macroscopic harmonic oscillators.
abstract: A minimal observable length is a common feature of theories that aim to merge quantum physics and gravity. Quantum mechanically, this concept is associated with a nonzero minimal uncertainty in position measurements, which is encoded in deformed commutation relations. In spite of increasing theoretical interest, the subject suffers from the complete lack of dedicated experiments and bounds to the deformation parameters have just been extrapolated from indirect measurements. As recently proposed, low-energy mechanical oscillators could allow to reveal the effect of a modified commutator. Here we analyze the free evolution of high-quality factor micro- and nano-oscillators, spanning a wide range of masses around the Planck mass mP (≈ 22 μg). The direct check against a model of deformed dynamics substantially lowers the previous limits on the parameters quantifying the commutator deformation.
authors.affiliation: 1] Physics Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino (MC) I-62032, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia I-06123, Italy.
authors.forename: Mateusz
authors.identifier: 0000000336113042
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bawaj
authors.affiliation: 1] Physics Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino (MC) I-62032, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia I-06123, Italy.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biancofiore
authors.affiliation: 1] Nanoscience-Trento-FBK Division, Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy [2] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Application, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.identifier: 0000000179963544
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonaldi
authors.affiliation: 1] Physics Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino (MC) I-62032, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia I-06123, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonfigli
authors.affiliation: 1] Nanoscience-Trento-FBK Division, Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy [2] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Application, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borrielli
authors.affiliation: 1] Physics Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino (MC) I-62032, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia I-06123, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Giuseppe
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: 1] INFN, Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy [2] CNR-Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Largo E. Fermi 6, Firenze I-50125, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: 1] Physics Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino (MC) I-62032, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia I-06123, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.affiliation: 1] Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pontin
authors.affiliation: 1] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Application, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy [2] Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trento, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Prodi
authors.affiliation: 1] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Application, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy [2] Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trento, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy [3] Centre for Materials and Microsystem, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Povo (TN) I-38123, Italy [4] Department of Microelectronics and Computer/ECTM/DIMES Technology Centre, Delft University of Technology, Feldmanweg 17, 2628 CT Delft, PO Box 5053, Delft 2600 GB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: 1] Physics Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri 9, Camerino (MC) I-62032, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia I-06123, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.affiliation: 1] Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy [2] INFN, Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy [3] European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marin