MicroMegascope

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) allows to reconstruct the topography of surface with a resolution in the nanometer range. The exceptional resolution attainable with the AFM makes this instrument a key tool in nanoscience and technology. The core of the set-up relies on the detection of the mechanical properties of a micro-oscillator when approached to a sample to image. Despite the fact that AFM is nowadays a very common instrument for research and development applications, thanks to the exceptional performances and the relative simplicity to use it, the fabrication of the micrometric scale mechanical oscillator is still a very complicated and expensive task requiring a dedicated platform. Being able to perform atomic force microscopy with a macroscopic oscillator would make the instrument more versatile and accessible for an even larger spectrum of applications and audiences. We present for the first time atomic force imaging with a centimetric oscillator. We show how it is possible to perform topographical images with nanometric resolution with a grams tuning fork. The images presented here are obtained with an aluminum tuning fork of centimeter size as sensor on which an accelerometer is glued on one prong to measure the oscillation of the resonator. In addition to the stunning sensitivity, by imaging both in air and in liquid, we show the high versatility of such oscillator. The set up proposed here can be extended to numerous experiments where the probe needs to be heavy and/or very complex as well as the environment

A single NV defect coupled to a nanomechanical oscillator

A single Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) center hosted in a diamond nanocrystal is positioned at the extremity of a SiC nanowire. This novel hybrid system couples the degrees of freedom of two radically different systems, i.e. a nanomechanical oscillator and a single quantum object. The dynamics of the nano-resonator is probed through time resolved nanocrystal fluorescence and photon correlation measurements, conveying the influence of a mechanical degree of freedom given to a non-classical photon emitter. Moreover, by immersing the system in a strong magnetic field gradient, we induce a magnetic coupling between the nanomechanical oscillator and the NV electronic spin, providing nanomotion readout through a single electronic spin. Spin-dependent forces inherent to this coupling scheme are essential in a variety of active cooling and entanglement protocols used in atomic physics, and should now be within the reach of nanomechanical hybrid systems

Giant slip lengths of a simple fluid at vibrating solid interfaces

It has been shown recently [PRL 102, 254503 (2009)] that in the plane-plane configuration a mechanical resonator vibrating close to a rigid wall in a simple fluid can be overdamped to a frozen regime. Here, by solving analytically the Navier Stokes equations with partial slip boundary conditions at the solid fluid interface, we develop a theoretical approach justifying and extending these earlier findings. We show in particular that in the perfect slip regime the above mentioned results are, in the plane-plane configuration, very general and robust with respect to lever geometry considerations. We compare the results with those obtained previously for the sphere moving perpendicularly and close to a plane in a simple fluid and discuss in more details the differences concerning the dependence of the friction forces with the gap distance separating the moving object (i.e., plane or sphere) from the fixed plane. Finally, we show that the submicron fluidic effect reported in the reference above, and discussed further in the present work, can have dramatic implications in the design of nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS).Comment: submitted to PRE (see also PRL 102, 254503 (2009)

A Scheme for Solving the Plane–Plane Challenge in Force Measurements at the Nanoscale

Non-contact interaction between two parallel flat surfaces is a central paradigm in sciences. This situation is the starting point for a wealth of different models: the capacitor description in electrostatics, hydrodynamic flow, thermal exchange, the Casimir force, direct contact study, third body confinement such as liquids or films of soft condensed matter. The control of parallelism is so demanding that no versatile single force machine in this geometry has been proposed so far. Using a combination of nanopositioning based on inertial motors, of microcrystal shaping with a focused-ion beam (FIB) and of accurate in situ and real-time control of surface parallelism with X-ray diffraction, we propose here a “gedanken” surface-force machine that should enable one to measure interactions between movable surfaces separated by gaps in the micrometer and nanometer ranges

Systemes Nano Electro Mecanique et interactiones a l' echelle nanometrique

Micro and Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS and NEMS) are among the best candidates for the measurement of interactions at the nanoscale. Resolution in force in the range of attonewton has been successfully exploited for the weighting of single molecules or the measurement of the spin of a single electron. NEMS and MEMS are generally mechanical devices made from submicron components facing each other. When the distance between the components reaches the sub-micron scale, phenomena generally neglected during macroscopic applications have to be taken into account. For example, the interaction mechanisms between the two surfaces moving at sub-micron separations are mediated by forces that, in macroscopic devices, are often irrelevant. In this thesis work we study interaction forces between surfaces when the the gap separating them is in the range from tens of nanometers up to several micrometers. First we address the problem of hydrodynamic forces acting on micro-structures oscillating in viscous environment. We show that the effect damping of a confined fluid is depending by the gap size of the confinement cavity. We study how this confinement effect can modify the properties of the mechanical oscillator. Second we address the problem of optical forces acting on micro mechanical oscillators. Using absorption and diffraction of X-ray beams we will see that effects usually observed using visible light can also be observed using X-rays. We show that Micro and possibly Nano Electro Mechanical System can be suitable for developing new tools in the domain of Synchrotron light techniques. Finally we study the thermal radiation between surfaces when the gap is the micron and sub-micron scale where the contribution of near field components cannot be neglected. We show measurement of thermal radiation between surfaces of glass providing a comparison with the theory of thermal radiation based on stochastic electrodynamics.Les Micro et Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS et NEMS) font partis des meilleurs candidats pour les mesures d'interactions a l'echelle nanometrique. La resolution en force de l'ordre de l'attonewton a ete exploit ee avec succes aussi bien pour mesurer le poids de molecules uniques que pour la mesure du spin d'un electron unique. Les NEMS et les MEMS sont generalement des systemes fabriques a partir de composants sub-microniques l'un en face de l'autre. Lorsque leur distance atteint l'echelle sub-micronique, phenomenes generalement negliges, doivent ^etre pris en compte lors d'applications microscopiques. Les interactions mecaniques entre deux surfaces separees de moins d'un micron sont regies par des forces qui, dans des systemes macroscopiques, sont souvent negligeables. Dans ce travail de these, nous etudions les forces d'interaction entre surfaces separees par une distance allant de quelques nanometres a plusieurs micrometres. Premierement nous traiterons du probleme des forces hydrodynamiques agissant sur des micro-structures oscillantes en environnement visqueux. Nous montrerons que l'eet d'amortissement d'un uide conne depend de la taille du connement. Nous etudierons comment cet eet de connement peut modier les proprietes de cet oscillateur mecanique. Dans un second temps nous poserons le probleme des forces optiques agissant sur les micro-oscillateurs mecaniques. Par l'utilisation de l'absorption et de la diraction des faisceaux de rayons X nous verrons que les eets habituellement observes en lumiere visible le sont aussi par rayons X. Nous montrerons que les MEMS et potentiellement les NEMS sont des systemes adequates pour le developpement de nouveaux outils pour les techniques de la lumiere Synchrotron. Enn nous etudierons la radiation thermique entre deux surfaces a une distance micronique et sub-micronique ou la contribution des composantes champs proche ne peuvent plus ^etre negligees. Nous presenterons les mesures de radiation thermique entre deux surfaces de verres amenant une comparaison avec la theorie de la radiation thermique basee sur l'electrodynamique stochastique