Physics Colloquium, 27 November 2001

A Mesoscopic Lattice Made of a Coupled Array of Micromechanical Resonators

Eyal Buks

California Institute of Technology

Description: The field of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is forcing a profound redefinition of the nature and attributes of electronic devices. This technology allows motion to be incorporated into the function of microscale devices. These additional mechanical degrees-of-freedom now enable a wide variety of intriguing new applications. Such advances now make it feasible to envisage new classes of signal processors, sensors, and even computational systems, with functionality derived primarily from their mechanical, rather than their electrical degrees of freedom.The devices described in this work are composed of a periodic array of beam resonators. Upon application of tunable electrostatic coupling between these systems, collective spectrum of vibrational modes for the coupled system emerges. These collective modes are excited parametrically, and we employ fiber-optic based optical diffraction to study the response that is induced. A simple model describing our system describes the generalized features of this response, but with modest drive levels a rich and complex nonlinear spectrum emerges. These systems offer unique prospects for real-time spectral analysis of electrical waveforms, and for studying mechanics on the mesoscopic scale.

For more information see Dr. Buk's page.

3.30 p.m., Smith Laboratory, Room 1005

Refreshments served in Smith 1094 at 3:00 p.m.