Intrinsically-Nonlinear Broadband Nanoresonator for Ultrahighly Sensitive Sensing of Energy Transfers

本研究项目旨在提出微/纳米谐振器发展的新概念，即在线性谐振系统中替换几何非线性，以实现本质非线性的宽带谐振器。这种谐振器没有优先谐振频率，在任何振荡幅度和整个频谱上都是非线性的。尺寸减小到微/纳米级，大大降低了整个系统的能量；这反过来又使系统敏感，即使是最微小的能量转移。将采用先进的工具和纳米材料来制造非线性纳米谐振器，并采用实验和理论相结合的方法来研究非线性动力学和系统不稳定性。重点将放在表征和分析这种非线性纳米谐振器对能量转移的灵敏度上，希望将这一新概念转化为可在实际环境中操作的超高灵敏度纳米传感器的开发。从而将目前纳米尺度机械共振的研究从线性动力学领域扩展到强非线性动力学领域。因此，这项研究不仅将为一个科学上非常有趣的话题提供新的基础理解，而且还将导致用于传感应用的新型纳米器件的发展。所包括的教育项目将进一步扩大该项目的影响，为学生和公众提供具有吸引力的教育材料，并为学生，特别是少数民族本科生和研究生提供实践培训机会。

This research project aims to advance a new concept in micro-/nano-resonator development that involves the substitution of a geometric nonlinearity in an otherwise linear resonant system to realize an intrinsically nonlinear broadband resonator. Such a resonator has no preferential resonant frequency and is nonlinear at any oscillation amplitude and across the whole frequency spectrum. The reduced size, down to micro-/nano-scale, significantly reduces the overall system energy; this in turn makes the system sensitive to even the slightest amount of energy transfer. Advanced tools and nanomaterials will be used to fabricate the nonlinear nanoresonator, and an integrated experimental and theoretical approach will be implemented to study the nonlinear dynamics and system instability. Particular focus will be placed onto the characterization and analysis of the sensitivity of this nonlinear nanoresonator to energy transfers in hope to translate this new concept into development of ultrahigh sensitivity nano-sensors that can be operated in practical environments.This research thus broadens the current research on nanoscale mechanical resonance, which is mostly in the linear dynamics regime, to the strongly nonlinear dynamics regime. Therefore, the research will not only provide new fundamental understanding of a scientifically highly interesting topic, but also lead to the development of a new class of nano-devices for sensing applications. The educational projects included will further broaden the impact of this project by providing appealing materials for the education of students and the public and by offering hands-on training opportunities for students, especially minority undergraduate and graduate students.