Searching for hypothetical forces in the Casimir regime using a MEMS based force sensor

Ricardo S. Decca, Daniel López, Dennis E. Krause, Ephraim Fischbach

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A microelectromechanical torsional oscillator was used to obtain new constraints in the search for new Yukawa-like interactions at the ∼ 100 nm range. A new heterodyne technique was used to enhance the possible contributions of hypothetical forces, while electromagnetic interactions (including the ones associated with vacuum fluctuations), remained the same. In particular, the force between a Au-coated sphere and a Au film deposited on the oscillator was subtracted in situ from the force between the same sphere and a composite film made out of Ge and Au. The combination of the high quality factor Q of the oscillator and this new approach that greatly reduced the Casimir background yielded improvements in the constraints close to one order of magnitude over the 50-400 nm interaction range.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSmart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS III
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
EventSmart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS III - Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
Duration: May 2 2007May 4 2007

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6589
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceSmart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS III
Country/TerritorySpain
CityMaspalomas, Gran Canaria
Period5/2/075/4/07

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Searching for hypothetical forces in the Casimir regime using a MEMS based force sensor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this