Photonic Excitation of a Micromechanical Cantilever in Electrostatic Fields.

Fiche publication


Date publication

décembre 2020

Journal

Physical review letters

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr GALLANI Jean-Louis


Tous les auteurs :
Barsella A, Hurier MA, Pichois MD, Vomir M, Hasan H, Mager L, Donnio B, Gallani JL, Rastei MV

Résumé

We present a specific near-field configuration where an electrostatic force gradient is found to strongly enhance the optomechanical driving of an atomic force microscope cantilever sensor. It is shown that incident photons generate a photothermal effect that couples with electrostatic fields even at tip-surface separations as large as several wavelengths, dominating the cantilever dynamics. The effect is the result of resonant phenomena where the photothermal-induced parametric driving acts conjointly (or against, depending on electric field direction) with a photovoltage generation in the cantilever. The results are achieved experimentally in an atomic force microscope operating in vacuum and explained theoretically through numerical simulations of the equation of motion of the cantilever. Intrinsic electrostatic effects arising from the electronic work-function difference of tip and surface are also highlighted. The findings are readily relevant for other optomicromechanical systems where electrostatic force gradients can be implemented.

Référence

Phys Rev Lett. 2020 Dec 18;125(25):254301