Biographical Sketch:
Theophilus Human is a graduate student currently engaged in research that explores the intersection of levitated optomechanics and quantum fluids. He works with Professor Jack Harris on the Helium Drop experiment. His broader scientific interests encompass optomechanics, precision measurement, and the development of new detection systems. He also has an interest in communicating science to the public through outreach and engagement.
Research:
The helium drop experiment employs a strong magnet to levitate a single droplet of superfluid helium in high vacuum. These levitated droplets enable both high-precision measurements and the study of superfluid properties in a pristine environment. Over the past several years, substantial upgrades have been made to the experimental apparatus to enhance control over the droplets. These improvements include more precise regulation of drop size, extended drop lifetimes, and reduced center-of-mass motion, allowing for increasingly accurate investigations. Surface mode frequencies—ripples on the drop’s surface—have been measured with exceptional precision, agreeing with theoretical predictions to within one part in a million. Optical whispering-gallery modes, which confine light along the drop’s circumference, have also been characterized in detail; notably, the fundamental radial mode (q = 1) was resolved for the first time. In addition, evaporation rates have been measured with sub-picometer-per-second precision and can now be finely tuned. Future avenues of research include precision measurements of matter neutrality, high finesse whispering gallery modes, superfluid dynamics, and optomechanical effects.
Education:
B.S. in Physics, Minor in Mathematics, University of California, San Diego
Experiments:
Helium Drop (Jack Harris Labs)
