Nonlinear micromechanical Casimir oscillator - art. no. 211801

Citation
Hb. Chan et al., Nonlinear micromechanical Casimir oscillator - art. no. 211801, PHYS REV L, 8721(21), 2001, pp. 1801
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
8721
Issue
21
Year of publication
2001
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20011119)8721:21<1801:NMCO-A>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
The Casimir force between uncharged metallic surfaces originates from quant um-mechanical zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. We demo nstrate that this quantum electrodynamical effect has a profound influence on the oscillatory behavior of microstructures when surfaces are in close p roximity (less than or equal to 100 nm). Frequency shifts, hysteretic behav ior, and bistability caused by the Casimir force are observed in the freque ncy response of a periodically driven micromachined torsional oscillator.