Tension mediated nonlinear coupling between orthogonal mechanical modes of nanowire resonators

TL;DR

This paper investigates how large amplitude oscillations in orthogonal modes of nanowire resonators lead to tension-induced nonlinear coupling, revealing complex hysteretic behaviors with potential for advanced force sensing applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates the tension-mediated nonlinear coupling between orthogonal modes in nanowire resonators, a phenomenon not previously characterized in such systems.

Findings

Nonlinear coupling arises from tension effects at large amplitudes.

Hysteretic responses indicate strong mode interaction.

Potential applications in vectorial force sensing.

Abstract

We study the nonlinear coupling between orthogonal flexural modes of doubly clamped InAs nanowire resonators. The two orthogonal modes are formed by the symmetry breaking and lifting of degeneracy of the fundamental mode. The presence of a Duffing nonlinearity emerges when a mode is driven to large amplitudes. In this regime the modes are coupled due to the tension induced from the large amplitude of oscillations and is reflected in the hysteretic response of the mode that is not strongly driven. We study the driven-driven response of the mechanical modes to elucidate the role of nonlinear mode coupling in such mechanical resonators. The dynamics of the coupled modes studied here could prove useful in technological applications such as nanowire based vectorial force sensing.