title: Nonlinear micromechanical Casimir oscillator.
abstract: The Casimir force between uncharged metallic surfaces originates from quantum-mechanical zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. We demonstrate that this quantum electrodynamical effect has a profound influence on the oscillatory behavior of microstructures when surfaces are in close proximity (< or =100 nm). Frequency shifts, hysteretic behavior, and bistability caused by the Casimir force are observed in the frequency response of a periodically driven micromachined torsional oscillator.
authors.affiliation: Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974, USA. hochan@lucent.com
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Aksyuk
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Kleiman
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capasso