Si nanophotonics based cantilever sensor

We present design and simulation results of a novel nanomechanical sensor using silicon cantilever embedded with a two-dimensional photonic crystal microcavity resonator. Both of resonant wavelength and resonant wavelength shift could be measured as a function of various physical parameters such as applied force, strain, and displacement. Rather linear relationship is derived for strain and resonant wavelength shift. This new nanomechanical sensor shows promising features for biomolecules detection. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.