A tribute to plasmonic piezoelectric nanomechanical resonators

Abstract

Infrared technology has been used for civilian applications in a wide variety of applications, inclusive of medical diagnostics, biological and chemical threat detection, electrical power system inspection, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal imaging. Applicability of photon detection and thermal sense has been based on infrared detectors, where photon detection links interaction between photons and electrons in a semiconductor material to produce an electrical output signal upon exposure to infrared radiation. Advantages are high signal-to-noise ratio or subjectively high resolution and fast response time, however bulky system volume after cryogenic cooling has subjected more expense and power inefficiently, since thermally generated carriers have to be prevented. Thermal detectors have operated depending on temperature-induced change of physical properties in materials upon exposure to infrared radiation. Thermal detectors are less expensive, more compact and power efficient than semiconductor photon detectors. Micro and nano electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) have been implemented in a large number of applications, given by semiconductor-based technology to fundamental science. Miniaturized techniques have been applied as ultra-sensitive uncooled infrared detectors, e.g., micro-bolometers and micro-machined thermopiles, etc.