Visualizing the motion of graphene nanodrums

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Davidovikj, Dejan, Slim, Jesse J, Santiago J Cartamil - Bueno, Herre S J van der Zant, Steeneken, Peter G, Venstra, Warner J
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 30.01.2016
• Subjects: Brownian motion; Deformation; Graphene; Mechanical properties; Physics - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; Spatial resolution; Two dimensional materials
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1602.00135

Membranes of suspended two-dimensional materials show a large variability in mechanical properties, in part due to static and dynamic wrinkles. As a consequence, experiments typically show a multitude of nanomechanical resonance peaks, which makes an unambiguous identification of the vibrational modes difficult. Here, we probe the motion of graphene nanodrum resonators with spatial resolution using a phase-sensitive interferometer. By simultaneously visualizing the local phase and amplitude of the driven motion, we show that unexplained spectral features represent split degenerate modes. When taking these into account, the resonance frequencies up to the eighth vibrational mode agree with theory. The corresponding displacement profiles however, are remarkably different from theory, as small imperfections increasingly deform the nodal lines for the higher modes. The Brownian motion, which is used to calibrate the local displacement, exhibits a similar mode pattern. The experiments clarify the complicated dynamic behaviour of suspended two-dimensional materials, which is crucial for reproducible fabrication and applications.