title: Influence of noise on force measurements.
abstract: We demonstrate how the ineluctable presence of thermal noise alters the measurement of forces acting on microscopic and nanoscopic objects. We quantify this effect exemplarily for a Brownian particle near a wall subjected to gravitational and electrostatic forces. Our results demonstrate that the force-measurement process is prone to artifacts if the noise is not correctly taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. g.volpe@physik.uni-stuttgart.de
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helden
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brettschneider
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wehr
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bechinger