Strong and tunable mode coupling in carbon nanotube resonators

Journal article (2012)
Department
QN/Quantum Nanoscience (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2012 American Physical Society
DOI: https://doi.org/doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.86.041402
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Published Date

09-07-2012

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Source:

Physical Review B, 86 (4), 2012

Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

QN/Quantum Nanoscience

Abstract

The nonlinear interaction between two mechanical resonances of the same freely suspended carbon nanotube resonator is studied. We find that, in the Coulomb-blockade regime, the nonlinear modal interaction is dominated by single-electron-tunneling processes and that the mode-coupling parameter can be tuned with the gate voltage, allowing both mode-softening and mode-stiffening behaviors. This is in striking contrast to tension-induced mode coupling in strings where the coupling parameter is positive and gives rise to a stiffening of the mode. The strength of the mode coupling in carbon nanotubes in the Coulomb-blockade regime is observed to be 6 orders of magnitude larger than the mechanical-mode coupling in micromechanical resonators.