title: Damping of nanomechanical resonators.
abstract: We study the transverse oscillatory modes of nanomechanical silicon nitride strings under high tensile stress as a function of geometry and mode index m≤9. Reproducing all observed resonance frequencies with classical elastic theory we extract the relevant elastic constants. Based on the oscillatory local strain we successfully predict the observed mode-dependent damping with a single frequency-independent fit parameter. Our model clarifies the role of tensile stress on damping and hints at the underlying microscopic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, D-80539 München, Germany. unterreithmeier@physik.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Quirin P
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Unterreithmeier
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Faust
authors.forename: Jörg P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kotthaus