Quantum Mechanical Limits to Inertial Mass Sensing by Nanomechanical Systems

Details Quantum Mechanical Limits to Inertial Mass Sensing by Nanomechanical Systems Quantum Mechanical Limits to Inertial Mass Sensing by Nanomechanical Systems

2009-05-07

arxiv.org/abs/0905.1081v1

Physics

Quantum Physics

4 pages, 2 figures

Scientific paper

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-P\'erot 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.

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