Quantum Mechanical Limits to Inertial Mass Sensing by Nanomechanical Systems
| dc.creator | Giscard, P. -L. | |
| dc.creator | Bhattacharya, M. | |
| dc.creator | Meystre, P. | |
| dc.date | 2009-05-07 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T13:12:42Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T13:12:42Z | |
| dc.description | We determine the quantum mechanical limits to inertial mass-sensing based on nanomechanical systems. We first consider a harmonically oscillating cantilever whose vibration frequency is changed by mass accretion at its surface. We show that its zero-point fluctuations limit the mass sensitivity, for attainable parameters, to about an electron mass. In contrast to the case of a classical cantilever, we find the mass sensitivity of the quantum mechanical cantilever is independent of its resonant frequency in a certain parameter regime at low temperatures. We then consider an optomechanical setup in which the cantilever is reflective and forms one end of a laser-driven Fabry-Pérot cavity. For a resonator finesse of 5 the mass sensitivity at T=0 is limited by cavity noise to about a quarter of a Dalton, but this setup has a more favorable temperature dependency at finite temperature, compared to the free cantilever. | |
| dc.description | 4 pages, 2 figures | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/0905.1081 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/0905.1081 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/229655 | |
| dc.subject | Quantum Physics | |
| dc.title | Quantum Mechanical Limits to Inertial Mass Sensing by Nanomechanical Systems | |
| dc.type | text |