Phase Change Materials based Tunable NEMS

可调谐谐振器具有广泛的应用，例如定位系统(例如。便携式GPS)和许多卫星系统，以及几乎所有的无线设备，如移动电话。谐振器越好，在速度和信号质量方面的应用就越有利。MEMS和NEMS具有非常高质量因数的潜力，可用于设计此类谐振器。谐振器的一个重要特性是它能够快速调整其频率，因此它可以快速锁定信号。在这个项目中，我们提出了一种新的NEMS谐振器，其频率可以快速调谐（在几纳秒的数量级上）。此外，这种谐振器将使用具有潜在双重功能的材料，不仅可以帮助调谐频率，还可以帮助感应频率。这种谐振器将降低成本，占用比现有谐振器少得多的空间，并且制造起来更简单。此外，该研究项目将阐明相变材料的压阻性等物理机制，以及这些材料的机械性能。

Tunable resonators have wide ranging applications such as in positioning systems (eg. portable GPS) and in many satellite systems, as well as in almost all wireless devices such as the mobile phone. Better the resonator, more favorable it is for the application in terms of speed, as well as signal quality. MEMS and NEMS have potential for very high quality factors, which can be taken advantage of for designing such resonators. One of the important characteristics of a resonator is its ability to adjust its frequency quickly, so that it can lock in to a signal speedily. In this project we propose a novel NEMS resonator whose frequency can be tuned rapidly (on the order of a few nanoseconds). In addition, this resonator would use materials that have potentially dual-functionality, to help not only in tuning the frequency, but also in sensing the frequency. Such a resonator would reduce costs, take up very much less space than existing resonators, and would be much simpler to fabricate. Furthermore, this research project would shed light on physical mechanisms such as the piezoresistivity of phase change materials, as well as the mechanical properties of such materials.