All-optical mass sensing with coupled mechanical resonator systems

With the small mass, large quality-factor and high frequency, mechanical resonators (MRs) will ultimately find usage in a broad range of applications, such as electrometry, optomechanical/electromechanical signal processing, and mass detection. In this review, we focus on a particular MR application: mass sensing in an all-optical domain. Compared to the mass detection based on the electrical techniques, we have proposed an optical protocol to weigh the external particles deposited onto the surface of a mechanical resonator. This protocol, which is so far the first method to deal with the mass sensing in an all-optical domain, is based on some coupled mechanical resonator systems. Here we review our recent optical mass sensors comprehensively. These all-optical mass sensors have the potential to break through the limitation of frequency restriction and to enhance the sensitivity of mass detection. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.