# Optomechanical tension and crumpling of resonant membranes

## TL;DR

This paper predicts that resonant illumination can modify the mechanical tension of membranes like graphene, potentially causing crumpling or instability due to optomechanical effects, with implications for controlling membrane states.

## Contribution

It introduces the concept of optomechanical tension in resonant membranes and analyzes how optical fields can induce crumpling and instability.

## Key findings

- Optical illumination can induce anisotropic tension in membranes.
- Spectral detuning determines whether tension is positive or negative.
- Negative tension can lead to membrane crumpling.

## Abstract

We predict that illumination by a plane electromagnetic wave of optically resonant membranes, such as graphene or monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides, directly affects their mechanical tension. The induced optomechanical tension is anisotropic and, depending on the spectral detuning from the resonance, can be both positive and negative. In the latter case, it can overcome the bending rigidity of the membrane leading to transition to the crumpled phase. The instability caused by optomechanical heating of flexural vibrations is also considered.