Nanomechanical systems with plasmonic resonances as detectors of modulated terahertz radiation

Our nanomechanical system reveals both the mechanical resonance associated with the mechanical oscillations of the nanocantilever and the plasma resonances due to the surface plasmons. The system in question can exhibit a gigantic response (very high sensitivity) when the modulation and carrier frequencies coincide with the mechanical and plasma resonant frequencies, respectively [1, 2]. Relatively large amplitude of the nanocantilever mechanical oscillations under the effect of the averaged field at the combined resonance results in relatively strong displacement ac current between the nanocantilever and the metal surface. This ac current at the modulation frequency can serve as the detector output signal.