Micro-Gas Flow Induced Stochastic Resonance Of A Nonlinear Nanomechanical Resonator

Fluidics is one of the most historic subjects that are well-established over centuries on the macroscopic scale. In recent years, fluid detection using a number of micro/nano scale devices has been achieved. However, the interaction of microfluid and solid devices on micro/nano-meter scale still lacks in-depth research. We demonstrate a practical nanomechanical detector for microfluidics via a string resonator with high Q-factor, suspended over a hole. This device is placed under a jet nozzle with several microns of diameter, and the interaction between the micro-gas flow and the resonator is observed by monitoring the variation of the fundamental frequency and the quality factor. Moreover, we manage to measure the fluctuations of the micro-gas flow on the nanomechanical resonator by means of stochastic resonance. This work manifests a potential platform for detecting dynamical fluid behaviors at microscopic scale for novel fluid physics.