2024/11/13 by L. Alborghetti, Alborghetti, L., B. Bertoni +23
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced MEMS and NEMS Technologies #FOS: Physical sciences #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Optics (physics.optics) #Photonic and Optical Devices
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2411.09071
openalex publication_date 2024/11/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A common approach to detecting weak signals or minute quantities involves leveraging the localized spectral features of resonant modes, whose sharper lines (i.e. high Q-factors) enhance transduction sensitivity. However, maximizing the Q-factor often introduces technical challenges in fabrication and design. In this work, we propose an alternative strategy to achieve sharper spectral features by using interference and nonlinearity, all while maintaining a constant dissipation rate. Using far-infrared thermomechanical detectors as a test case, we demonstrate that signal transduction along an engineered response curve slope effectively reduces the detector's noise equivalent power (NEP), achieving ∼ 30 pW/√(Hz) NEP for electrical read-out, sub-THz detectors with an optimized absorbing layer.