UCLA

The mechanical response of uncoated silicon microcantilevers is shown to modulate as a function of incident wavelength. Cantilever motion is measured interferometrically, using phase sensitive detection in response to a mechanically chopped excitation source. Thin film interference modeling shows that the fraction of absorbed light within the cantilever varies periodically over the range of 450-1000 nm, in excellent agreement with the measurements. The results show that the optomechanical responsivity of these cantilevers can be tuned due to the effect via an appropriate selection of incident wavelength, incidence angle, lever thickness, and optical constants of the lever. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.