Nanoscale Fluid-Structure Interaction: Hydrodynamic Synchronization of High-Frequency Nanomechanical Oscillators

主要研究者：Ekinci，Kamil提案编号：1604075拟议研究的重点是调查两个纳米级结构之间相互作用的基本原理，这两个纳米级结构彼此靠近，而流体在它们周围流动。当这些结构中的一个振荡时，另一个可以同步并且也振荡。研究这一过程可以应用于各种用途的纳米器件的设计。本提案的目标是：i）研究高频纳米级振荡器之间的流体动力学耦合的基本原理;以及ii）确定这种振荡器是否可以流体动力学同步。基本前提是简单的：在流体中振荡的固体产生振荡速度场，随后在附近的物体上施加振荡力;反之亦然。然而，在高频极限，这个问题的流体动力学变得复杂，因为相位滞后，流动的潜在和粘性分量之间的相互作用，以及流体动力学的附加质量。这项研究主要是实验性的，将依赖于纳米机械杠杆。研究的第一部分旨在对纳米悬臂在水中振荡的耦合流体动力学进行物理理解。这将通过使用精细的光学和电子技术测量纳米悬臂之间的流体动力来实现。在第二部分中，纳米悬臂梁将通过反馈变成独立的振荡器，实验将阐明这两个自主振荡器同步的流体动力学条件。将在实验指导下开发简单的物理模型。同步是一种复杂的现象，如果实施得当，可以实现纳米器件阵列。通过采用纳米机械传感器的同步阵列，可以增加利用纳米振荡器作为传感器的灵敏度和效率。这些设备可以在生物医学科学、医疗保健、国土安全和环境监测中找到应用，在单分子水平上提供前所未有的灵敏度。教育和外联目标可概括如下：㈠招募少数群体参与激动人心和迅速扩大的纳米流体领域; ㈡向高中生开展外联活动，鼓励他们今后从事科学和工程专业; ㈢在本科一级开设课程，鼓励新生攻读科学和工程专业; ㈣通过最先进的研究和课程进行研究生教育

PI: Ekinci, KamilProposal Number: 1604075The focus of the proposed research is to investigate the fundamentals of the interactions between two nanoscale structures that are placed close to each other while a fluid is flowing around them. When one of these structure oscillates, the other can be synchronized and also oscillate. Investigating this process can have applications for the design of nanoscale devices of diverse use. The objectives of this proposal are: i) to study the fundamentals of hydrodynamic coupling between high-frequency nanoscale oscillators; and ii) to determine whether or not such oscillators can be synchronized hydrodynamically. The underlying premise is straightforward: a solid body oscillating in a fluid generates an oscillatory velocity field, which subsequently exerts an oscillatory force on a nearby body; and vice versa. At the high-frequency limit, however, the fluid dynamics of this problem becomes complex because of phase lags, the interplay between potential and viscous components of the flow, and the hydrodynamic added masses. The proposed study is primarily experimental and will rely on nanomechanical cantilevers. The first part of the study aims to develop a physical understanding of coupled hydrodynamics of nanocantilevers oscillating in water. This will be accomplished by measuring the hydrodynamic forces between nanocantilevers using elaborate optical and electronic techniques. In the second part, the nanocantilevers will be turned into independent oscillators via feedback, and the experiments will elucidate the hydrodynamic conditions under which these two autonomous oscillators will synchronize. Simple physical models, guided by the experiments, will be developed. Synchronization is a complex phenomenon, which can enable nanodevice arrays, if properly implemented. By employing synchronized arrays of nanomechanical sensors, one can increase the sensitivity and efficiency of utilizing nanooscillators as sensors. These devices can find applications in biomedical sciences, healthcare, homeland security and environmental monitoring, providing unprecedented sensitivities at the level of single molecules. The education and outreach objectives can be summarized as follows: i) recruitment of minorities to participate in the exciting and rapidly expanding field of nanofluidics; ii) outreach to high school students to encourage future careers in science and engineering; iii) course development at the undergraduate level to encourage freshmen to pursue majors in science and engineering; iv) graduate student education through state-of-the-art research and courses