D. Dragoman et M. Dragoman, Optical actuation of micromechanical tunneling structures with applications in spectrum analysis and optical computing, APPL OPTICS, 38(32), 1999, pp. 6773-6778
An efficient method for optically actuating a micromechanical cantilever is
presented for the first time to our knowledge. Measurable responses can be
obtained for moderate light sources if electron tunneling occurs between t
he cantilever tip acid a metallic contact below it. The small deflection of
the cantilever that is due to light pressure is sufficient then to produce
large tunneling current variations. On the basis of this effect several ap
plications such as a miniaturized spectrum analyzer and one-step optical co
mputing units for addition, integration, or differentiation of one-dimensio
nal or two-dimensional optical signals are presented. (C) 1999 Optical Soci
ety of America OCIS codes: 230.3990, 070.4560, 070.4790, 200.4740.