NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

PUBLICATIONS

A self-calibrating optomechanical force sensor with femtonewton resolution

Published

Author(s)

John T. Melcher, Julian Stirling, Felipe Guzman, Jon R. Pratt, Gordon A. Shaw

Abstract

We report the development of an ultrasensitive optomechanical sensor designed to improve the accuracy and precision of force measurements with atomic force microscopy. The sensors achieve quality factors of 4.3x10^6 (a 100-fold improvement over quartz tuning forks) and force resolution on the femtonewton scale. Self-calibration of the sensor is accomplished using the photon momentum force exerted by photons reflecting from the sensor surface. This property enables in situ calibration of the sensor at cryogenic ultra-high vacuum.
Citation
Applied Physics Letters
Pub Type
Journals

Keywords

atomic, force, microscopy, optomechanics, sensor
Nanotechnology and Nanomechanics

Citation

Melcher, J. , Stirling, J. , Guzman, F. , Pratt, J. and Shaw, G. (2014), A self-calibrating optomechanical force sensor with femtonewton resolution, Applied Physics Letters (Accessed October 27, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created December 10, 2014, Updated February 19, 2017
Was this page helpful?