Researchers at NIST have developed a highly sensitive force sensor using a crystal of 60 beryllium ions cooled to near absolute zero. The sensor can measure forces at the yoctonewton scale (equivalent to the weight of a single copper atom) with a measurement time of one second. This represents a significant improvement over previous methods, which could only measure forces 1,000 times larger in the same timeframe.
The sensor works by applying an oscillating electric field to the ion crystal, causing the ions to rock back and forth. Changes in the reflected laser light intensity are detected, providing a measure of the ions’ motion. The technique is highly sensitive due to the low mass of the ions, their strong response to external electric fields, and the ability to detect nanometer-scale changes in ion motion.
This development could have practical applications in force microscopy, nanoscale science, and tests of fundamental physics theories. The research was funded in part by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2010/08/yikes-nist-sensor-measures-yoctonewton-forces-fast
Keywords: precision, nanometer, nanoscale, sensitivity, measurement
