arXiv · 0907.2823
Carbon nanotubes as ultra-high quality factor mechanical resonators
Abstract
We have observed the transversal vibration mode of suspended carbon nanotubes at millikelvin temperatures by measuring the single-electron tunneling current. The suspended nanotubes are actuated contact-free by the radio frequency electric field of a nearby antenna; the mechanical resonance is detected in the time-averaged current through the nanotube. Sharp, gate-tuneable resonances due to the bending mode of the nanotube are observed, combining resonance frequencies of up to ν_0 = 350 MHz with quality factors above Q = 10^5, much higher than previously reported results on suspended carbon nanotube resonators. The measured magnitude and temperature dependence of the Q-factor shows a remarkable agreement with the intrinsic damping predicted for a suspended carbon nanotube. By adjusting the RF power on the antenna, we find that the nanotube resonator can easily be driven into the non-linear regime.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
A. K. Huettel, G. A. Steele, B. Witkamp, M. Poot, L. P. Kouwenhoven, H. S. J. van der Zant. 2009-07-18. Carbon nanotubes as ultra-high quality factor mechanical resonators. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl900612h
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.