Description
Playing the nanoguitar: An introduction to nanomechanical systems:
Nanomechanical resonators are freely suspended, vibrating bridges with nanoscale diameters. These nanostructures are receiving an increasing amount of attention, both in fundamental experiments addressing the foundations of quantum mechanics and in sensing applications, and show great promise as linking elements in future hybrid nanosystems. A realization of this potential is however based on the development of not only nanomechanical systems of high mechanical quality factor but also suitable control techniques.
Here I will review this emergent field. After a general introduction covering types of nanomechanical resonators as well as common actuation and detection techniques, I will focus on dielectrically controlled, strongly pre-stressed silicon nitride nanostrings. These nanomechanical resonators feature remarkably high mechanical quality factors even at room temperature, while dielectric control provides a versatile toolbox to control their mechanical properties.
