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Ultrasensitive force detection with a nanotube mechanical resonator

Nature Nanotechnology volume 8, pages 493–496 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Since the advent of atomic force microscopy1, mechanical resonators have been used to study a wide variety of phenomena, including the dynamics of individual electron spins2, persistent currents in normal metal rings3 and the Casimir force4,5. Key to these experiments is the ability to measure weak forces. Here, we report on force sensing experiments with a sensitivity of 12 zN Hz−1/2 at a temperature of 1.2 K using a resonator made of a carbon nanotube. An ultrasensitive method based on cross-correlated electrical noise measurements, in combination with parametric downconversion, is used to detect the low-amplitude vibrations of the nanotube induced by weak forces. The force sensitivity is quantified by applying a known capacitive force. This detection method also allows us to measure the Brownian vibrations of the nanotube down to cryogenic temperatures. Force sensing with nanotube resonators offers new opportunities for detecting and manipulating individual nuclear spins as well as for magnetometry measurements.

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Figure 1: Nanotube resonator with low spring constant.
Figure 2: Measuring thermal vibrations.
Figure 3: Electron–vibration coupling in the Coulomb blockade regime.
Figure 4: Force sensing experiment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank C. Degen, C. Glattli, C. Schönenberger, J. Gabelli and T. Kontos for discussions. We acknowledge support from the European Union through the RODIN-FP7 project, the ERC-carbonNEMS project and a Marie Curie grant (271938), the Spanish state (FIS2009-11284), the Catalan government (AGAUR, SGR) and the US Army Research Office.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, Castelldefels, 08860, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Moser, J. Güttinger, A. Eichler & A. Bachtold

  2. ICN, CIN2-CSIC, Campus UAB, Barcelona, 08193, Spain

    J. Moser, J. Güttinger, A. Eichler, M. J. Esplandiu & A. Bachtold

  3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, Michigan, USA

    D. E. Liu & M. I. Dykman

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  1. J. Moser
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  2. J. Güttinger
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  3. A. Eichler
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  4. M. J. Esplandiu
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  5. D. E. Liu
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  7. A. Bachtold
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Contributions

J.M. fabricated the device, developed the experimental set-up, and carried out the measurements. J.G. and A.E. provided support with the experimental set-up. J.G. participated in the measurements. J.G. and J.M. analysed the data. M.J.E. grew the nanotubes. D.E.L. and M.I.D. provided support with the theory and wrote the theoretical part of the Supplementary Information. J.M. and A.B. wrote the manuscript with critical comments from J.G. and M.I.D. A.B. conceived the experiment and supervised the work.

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Correspondence to A. Bachtold.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Moser, J., Güttinger, J., Eichler, A. et al. Ultrasensitive force detection with a nanotube mechanical resonator. Nature Nanotech 8, 493–496 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.97

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