Two-dimensional electron-gas actuation and transduction for GaAs nanoelectromechanical systems

We have fabricated doubly clamped beams from GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well heterostructures containing a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Applying an rf drive to in-plane side gates excites the beam's mechanical resonance through a dipole-dipole mechanism. Sensitive high-frequency displacement transduction is achieved by measuring the ac emf developed across the 2DEG in the presence of a constant dc sense current. The high mobility of the incorporated 2DEG provides low-noise, low-power, and high-gain electromechanical displacement sensing through combined piezoelectric and piezoresistive mechanisms. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.