High-Q Micromechanical Torsion Resonator Based On Suspending A Test Mass From A Nanoribbon

The present invention features a micrometer-scale torsion balance device comprising a rigid mass and two or more nanoribbons attached to the rigid mass. The rigid mass may be suspended by the two or more nanoribbons. The two or more nanoribbons may be placed under tensile stress. A local acceleration value may be derived from a torsional stiffness of the two or more nanoribbons. In some embodiments, the rigid mass may comprise silicon. In some embodiments, the two or more nanoribbons may comprise silicon nitride. In some embodiments, the rigid mass may have a polygon shape, the polygon shape having four or more sides. A side of the four or more sides may be longer than all others.