2000/08/06 by Eyal Buks, E. Buks, M. L. Roukes · 7 citations
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Carbon Nanotubes in Composites #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1209/epl/i2001-00298-x
RevTex, 4 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2000/08/06 · openalex publication_date 2001/04/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Electrostatic and Casimir interactions limit the range of positional stability of electrostatically actuated or capacitively coupled mechanical devices. We investigate this range experimentally for a generic system consisting of a doubly clamped Au suspended beam, capacitively coupled to an adjacent stationary electrode. The mechanical properties of the beam, both in the linear and nonlinear regimes, are monitored as the attractive forces are increased to the point of instability. There “pull-in” occurs, resulting in permanent adhesion between the electrodes. We investigate, experimentally and theoretically, the position-dependent lifetimes of the free state (existing prior to pull-in). We find that the data cannot be accounted for by simple theory; the discrepancy may be reflective of internal structural instabilities within the metal electrodes.