Adosh Mehta

Manipulation and controlled amplification of Brownian motion of microcantilever sensors

Microcantilevers, such as those used in atomic force microscopy, undergo Brownian motion due to mechanical thermal noise. The root mean square amplitude of the Brownian motion of a cantilever typically ranges from 0.01–0.1 nm, which limits its use in practical applications. Here we describe a technique by which the Brownian amplitude and the Q factor in air and water can be amplified by three and two orders of magnitude, respectively. This technique is similar to a positive feedback oscillator, wherein the Brownian motion of the vibrating cantilever controls the frequency output of the oscillator. This technique can be exploited to improve sensitivity of microcantilever-based chemical and biological sensors, especially for sensors in liquid environments.

Observation of dipolar emission patterns from isolated Eu3+:Y2O3 doped nanocrystals: new evidence for single ion luminescence

Abstract We report results of emission pattern imaging experiments from single Eu3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals (3–12 nm size) designed to provide new insight on the luminescence dynamics of isolated rare-earth doped nano-phosphors. We observe dipolar emission patterns that are characteristic of single quantum emitters whose orientation appears fixed on the measurement time scale. We also show that the luminescence from single nanoparticles is linearly polarized, also characteristic of single quantum system behavior. Taken in combination with dynamical observations of blinking and discrete photobleaching, these experiments provide strong evidence for single ion luminescence, and confirm the dipolar nature of the optical transitions of Eu3+ in inorganic crystals.

Size-correlated spectroscopy and imaging of rare-earth-doped nanocrystals

Isolated europium-doped metal-oxide nanoparticles were probed by size-correlated high-numerical-aperture (far-field) imaging techniques. A modified Digital Instruments Bioscope atomic force microscope mounted upon a Nikon TE300 inverted microscope was used to interrogate (dry) particles ranging in size from 2 to 150 nm on the surface of a glass or quartz coverslip. These experiments revealed several interesting features of doped-nanoparticle luminescence such as Poissonian occupation statistics, size-dependent luminescence efficiency enhancement for particle sizes of <10 nm, and correlation of interesting transient behavior at particle sizes of <5 nm.

Dynamics of self-driven microcantilevers

The small amplitude thermal vibrations of the microcantilever of an atomic force microscope can be enhanced via a delayed feedback system. This is verified experimentally for a triangular cantilever, and modeled theoretically as a boundary value problem resulting in a second order functional differential equation for the temporal behavior of the cantilever. The eigenvalues of the resulting delay differential equation describing the transverse vibrations of the cantilever are calculated and analyzed. These values are compared with the corresponding resonant frequencies predicted by a point mass model and with the experimentally observed values.

Oriented semiconducting polymer nanostructures as on-demand room-temperature single-photon sources

We show that oriented nanostructures from single molecules of a conducting polymer act as highly robust room-temperature single-photon sources. Individual z-oriented polymer nanostructures show high-contrast photon antibunching with a modulation depth exceeding 90%. These results suggest the feasibility of a “push-button” technology for polymer-based single-photon sources in photonic-based quantum information processing applications.

Manipulation of microcantilever oscillations.

Experimental observation of self-sustaining oscillations via a delayed feedback system is presented for a rectangular silicon microcantilever. The system is modeled as one and two-dimensional damped oscillator and the resulting delay differential equations are studied in frequency and time domain. The shortcomings of each model are outlined, and an improved formulation of the dynamics of the cantilever is presented.

Analysis of amplification of thermal vibrations of a microcantilever

We examine the conditions under which the small amplitude of thermal vibrations of cantilevers typically used for atomic force microscopy and sensor applications can be enhanced through a feedback mechanism. Using a simple mathematical model with two independent measurable physical parameters, a time delay τ and a gain factor G, we show that for certain values of these two parameters, such amplification is feasible. Experimental measurements of the two parameters when amplification succeeded show that these fall in the range predicted by the calculations.

Photonic polymers: a new class of photonic wire structure from intersecting polymer-blend microspheres

We report a new kind of photonic wire structure made from the sequential attachment of polymer-blend microparticles. Using a linear quadrupole to manipulate the particles in space, we are able to take advantage of a modified surface structure in the blend particle to actively assemble particles in programmable two- or three-dimensional architectures. Strong resonance features in fluorescence are observed near the intersection of linked spheres that cannot be interpreted with a two-dimensional (equatorial plane) model. Three-dimensional ray optics calculations show long-lived periodic trajectories that propagate in great circles linked at an angle with respect to the plane containing the sphere centers.

Oriented Luminescent Nanostructures From Single Molecules Of Conjugated Polymers

Dipole emission pattern imaging experiments on single chains of common conjugated polymers (solubilized poly phenylene vinylenes) isolated by ink-jet printing techniques have revealed surprising uniformity in transition moment orientation perpendicular to the support substrate. In addition to uniform orientation, these species show a number of striking differences in photochemical stability, polarization anisotropy,[1] and spectral signatures[2] with respect to similar (well-studied) similar molecules dispersed in dilute thin-films. Combined with molecular mechanics simulation, these results point to a structural picture of a folded macromolecule as ahighly ordered cylindrical nanostructure whose long-axis (approximately collinear with the conjugation axis) is oriented, by an electrostatic interaction, perpendicular to the coverglass substrate. These results suggest a number of important applications in nanoscale photonics and molecular-scale optoelectronics.

A Self-Locking Technique with Fast Response and High Sensitivity for Micro-Cantilever Based Sensing of Analytes

Abstract : MEMS based microcantilevers have been employed as sensors in both liquid and ambient conditions. One scheme for detection is based upon monitoring the change in microcantilever resonant frequency as a function of the adsorbed analyte concentration. However, the sensitivity is limited by the accuracy of the frequency measurements, which is a function of the Q-factor of the vibrating element and the measurement bandwidth. In this paper, we present a feedback scheme for self-locking amplification of the small-amplitude thermal oscillations of the microcantilever. Using this approach, we demonstrate an improvement in the Q-factor by two to three orders of magnitude as compared to that of the undriven microcantilever. Use of this technique eliminates the need for lock-in detection and results in improved response times for sensor applications. Experiments using the proposed feedback amplification technique show improved sensitivity for the detection of biological molecules in liquids, and for adsorbed vapors under ambient conditions.