Optical actuation of micromechanical tunneling structures with applications in spectrum analysis and optical computing

Abstract

An efficient method for optically actuating a micromechanical cantilever is presented for the first time to our knowledge. Measurable responses can be obtained for moderate light sources if electron tunneling occurs between the cantilever tip and a metallic contact below it. The small deflection of the cantilever that is due to light pressure is sufficient then to produce large tunneling current variations. On the basis of this effect several applications such as a miniaturized spectrum analyzer and one-step optical computing units for addition, integration, or differentiation of one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical signals are presented.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

Biased micromechanical cantilever arrays as optical image memory

Daniela Dragoman and Mircea Dragoman
Appl. Opt. 42(8) 1515-1519 (2003)

Optical actuation of micromechanical components

D. R. Koehler
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14(9) 2197-2203 (1997)

Single device for laser source measurements from the ultraviolet to the far infrared

Daniela Dragoman and Mircea Dragoman
Appl. Opt. 39(24) 4361-4365 (2000)

Computing uses of the optical tunnel

James R. Jenness
Appl. Opt. 29(20) 2989-2991 (1990)

Application of optical processing techniques to the quality control of micromechanics

G. Indebetouw
Appl. Opt. 16(7) 1944-1950 (1977)