Optical sensing interface based on nano-opto-electro-mechanical systems

Abstract

A novel optical sensing interface based on nano-opto-electro-mechanical systems (NOEMS) is proposed, in which the light can be coupled with quantum tunneled electrons via weak mechanical coupling. By taking optical pump power and mechanical coupling strength as varying parameters, respectively, bifurcation diagrams of three involved dynamical states of the NOEMS, i.e., optical, electrical and mechanical mode, are calculated, from which an effective coupling region for tunneled electrons and light is revealed. Selfoscillation, transient dynamics and the threshold of the NOEMS are further characterized, and it is found that the effective coupling region has a special transient time. The work sheds light in developing ultra-sensitive photon detectors using physical mechanisms rather than the conventional PN junction based.