A study in Nature Communications last month reported the University of St Andrews near Edinburgh, Scotland was briefly home to the world's fastest spinning manmade object. Physicists accelerated a microscopic sphere of atoms to 600 million revolutions per minute; it then, according to press coverage, disintegrated. Wikinews contacted the team to learn more.
The experiment was designed to explore the boundary between conventional physics, which applies to larger objects, and quantum physics, which applies only to extremely small objects. Subatomic particles obey a very different set of rules than the items we see every day, but the behaviour of particles at just above quantum levels remains enigmatic.
The team wanted to expand upon research using single atoms or molecules, instead constructing a four-micrometre thick sphere of calcium carbonate, in a crystaline form called vaterite, in a bid to examine systems containing over a million atoms. The ball was so small it could be manipulated using lasers; light beams exert a force called radiation pressure.
With the ball held within a vacuum by a laser trap, the scientists were able to apply a twisting force through the light's polarisation (orientation) as it passed through the ball. The vacuum eliminated air resistance so that scientists could look for evidence of quantum friction, a proposed force that slows spinning particles without external assistance.
The spinning sphere turned into a miniature gyroscope, stabilising itself. The ball cooled as it span to −233°C (−387°F, 40 Kelvin).
The research was carried out by Dr. Yoshihiki Arita, Dr. Michael Mazilu, and Professor Kishan Dholakia. Wikinews was able to ask Mazilu some questions about his research.
((Wikinews))  What first got you interested in researching quantum friction?
((WN))  Press coverage has focused on the fact this is the fastest spinning manmade object ever created, but the aim of the experiment was to research quantum physics. How did you end up with this unusual record — was it by accident?
((WN))  How was the sphere manufactured, and how long did it take? 
((WN))  How long did the sphere take to reach 600 million revs per minute and break up?
((WN))  Could the high speeds attained be taken as evidence against quantum friction, as the sphere simply kept getting faster until it broke apart?
((WN))  The experiment failed to conclusively prove quantum friction, but did it provide any evidence to support the theory?
((WN))  How challenging is research of this sort? What kind of difficulties are encountered?
((WN))  Previous research on the boundary between conventional and quantum physics has used atoms and individual molecules. Why was a sphere in excess of a million atoms appropriate for this experiment? Would that not move further away, rather than closer to, the boundary between the two?
((WN))  How likely is this result to be an anomaly? Might a similar ball break up more quickly, or be unable to spin as fast?
((WN))  Where would you like to see the research go next? More spheres?
((WN))  If confirmed, what applications might quantum friction have?
((WN))  One follow-up question for publication: You said you found smaller spheres more difficult to levitate. Why is that?

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Wikinews interviews Dr. Michael Mazilu on creating world's fastest spinning manmade object