Mesoscopic physics of nanomechanical systems

Nanomechanics has brought mesoscopic physics into the world of vibrations. Because nano-mechanical systems are small, fluctuations are significant, the vibrations already become nonlinear for comparatively small amplitudes, and new mechanisms of dissipation come into play. At the same time, the exquisite control of these systems makes them a platform for studying many problems of classical and quantum physics far from thermal equilibrium in a well-characterized setting. This review describes, at a conceptual level, basic theoretical ideas and explicative experiments pertaining to mesoscopic physics of nanomechanical systems. Major applications of nanomechanics in science and technology are also outlined. A broad range of phenomena related to the conservative as well as dissipative nonlinearity and fluctuations are discussed within a unifying framework. They include the linear response of single and coupled vibrational modes as well as nonlinear effects of periodic driving. Such driving breaks the continuous time-translation symmetry and the detailed balance, with conspicuous consequences for fluctuations, particularly in the presence of the driving-induced bistability and multistability. Mathematical techniques are described in the appendixes to provide an introduction to the theory. The goal of the review is to show the richness of the physics at work. The continuous experimental and theoretical advances make nanomechanical systems a vibrant area of research with many new phenomena to discover.

Automated summary

Nanomechanics brings mesoscopic physics into the world of vibrations, where small scale and fluctuations result in nonlinear vibrations and new dissipation mechanisms. The precise control of nanomechanical systems makes them an ideal platform for studying classical and quantum physics far from thermal equilibrium. This review provides a conceptual overview of theoretical ideas and explanatory experiments related to the mesoscopic physics of nanomechanical systems, and outlines major applications in science and technology. Nanomechanical systems are a vibrant area of research with continuous advancements and new phenomena to discover.