超紧凑电容可“听”到最微弱振动

Core Viewpoint - Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed an ultra-compact parallel plate capacitor structure with a gap of only 32 nanometers, setting a new miniaturization record for similar structures and approaching the measurement precision limits of quantum physics, indicating a significant advancement in measurement technology and the potential for new high-precision quantum sensors [1][3][5] Group 1: Technical Innovations - The 32-nanometer gap is the distance between a movable aluminum membrane and a fixed electrode, forming an extremely compact parallel plate capacitor aimed at high-precision sensor design, which is a core component urgently needed for devices like atomic force microscopes [3] - Traditional atomic force microscopes rely on optical systems to read tiny mechanical vibrations, which are often complex and large, limiting miniaturization and integration; the research team has replaced this optical reading method with electrical and mechanical oscillation methods [3][4] - The capacitive and inductive components formed by the nano-membrane and electrode create an electrical resonant circuit, where the tiny vibrations of the membrane cause changes in the circuit's resonance frequency, enabling high-precision measurement of extremely weak mechanical vibrations [3][4] Group 2: Alternative Measurement Platforms - In addition to the electrical resonant scheme, the team demonstrated a purely mechanical measurement platform where different micro-mechanical resonators are integrated on the same chip, allowing their vibrations to couple and transmit information [4] - This purely mechanical system can operate at room temperature and achieve effective coupling in the gigahertz frequency range, avoiding the need for extremely low-temperature environments required by many quantum sensing experiments [4][5] - The development of this nano-scale "drum" and micro-capacitor paves the way for the creation of new ultra-sensitive sensors capable of detecting extremely weak magnetic fields, gravitational forces, or frequency signals, with significant application potential [5]