Researchers unveil gigahertz resonances in nanoscale drumheads at room temperature. From smartphones to quantum computers, modern technology depends on moving information quickly and efficiently. Now, scientists have found a way to control vibrations at gigahertz (GHz) speeds to serve as ultra-fast bridges between mechanical, microwave and optical signals.
January 2019, Journal Article
Congrats to Laura and Vivian for our team’s new journal article in Optical Materials Express, reporting on synergizing numerical modeling and experimental efforts to reveal the optical contrast signatures of h-BN on various substrates. The work offers a non-contact, rapid thickness estimation method for h-BN thin films on suspended device platforms, where conventional contact methods are incapable or cumbersome.
Our group’s latest work on silicon carbide (SiC) optomechanics has been published featured as a “Spotlight on Optics” by Optica (formely OSA) and published on Photonic. Led by Dr. Yuncong Liu and Prof. Philip Feng, along with collaborators at CMU, the team developed a microdisk resonator that vibrates at nearly a billion times per second. This breakthrough, published in Photonics Research, opens new doors for integrated sensing technologies by combining the ruggedness of SiC with precise optical control. Read the full story at UF ECE News.
January 2019, Journal Article
Congrats to Arnob and Anno for our team’s new journal article in Optical Materials Express, demonstrating the first polarization sensitive black phosphorus (P) nanomechanical resonators. The observed polarization responsivity of the resonance frequency can be utilized to realize polarimetric nanodevices to detect optical rotation of optically active substances. Further, from polarization sensitive resonance frequency shift, it is possible to identify two unknown in-plane crystal directions, armchair (AC) and zigzag (ZZ), of black P crystals.
New research from our group and collaborators at UF Physics has revealed a method to “listen” to magnetism using vibrating nano-drums. Featured on the cover of Advanced Materials, this work utilizes ultra-thin membranes to detect subtle magnetic changes that were previously hidden. Congratulations to our group members Dr. Enamul Yousuf (lead author) and Yunong Wang for their key roles in this discovery! Read the full story at UF Engineering News.
January 2019, Journal Article
A new invited article from our team is published in APL Materials, demonstrating the first dual-modality solar-blind UV light sensing β-Ga2O3 transducer enabled by multi-physics coupling across photo-electrical and photo-thermo-mechanical domains. Congrats to Xu-Qian and Yong!