Work

Bricks-on-pedestals silicon optomechanical cavity: a mass sensor for nanoparticles detection

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Optomechanical cavities can be used as highly sensitive mass sensors actuated by an optical field. In this work, we introduce and numerically demonstrate a new design for an optomechanical cavity consisting of a series of asymmetrically distributed rectangular silicon nanobricks, with each brick acting as an independent mechanical resonator but all coupled to the same optical field. Each silicon brick is placed on top of a thin silica pillar that ensures mechanical support whilst providing enough acoustic isolation between the individual mechanical resonances - at GHz frequencies - of each brick. The mass sensing capabilities of this cavity are studied through numerical simulations, proving that a point mass approximation can be used for silica nanoparticles with a radius smaller than 100 nm and that different nanoparticles can be measured independently but simultaneously and in real-time.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.546126

Authors: Alberto Grau, Laura Mercadé, Raúl Ortiz, Alejandro Martínez

Institution: Universitat Politècnica de València

Language: English

Topic: Mechanical and Optical Resonators

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: Generalitat Valenciana, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Universitat Politècnica de València, Agencia Estatal de Investigación