Alignment and actuation of compliant nanostructures and diffractive optics by inter-nanomagnet forces

This thesis presents a novel method to stretch flexible nanostructures by nanomagnets interaction forces. We discuss the ability of different types of nanomagnets to distort several types of structures in two different cases. In the first, this method is applied for precise self-alignment of nanomembranes with applications in three-dimensional nanostructures manufacturing as well as distortion and patterning errors correction in a promising unconventional way. The second application addressed in this work shows the ability of nanomagnets to tune diffractive optical elements through deformation and actuation of nanostructured freestanding beams such as in a diffraction grating. This actuation combines the advantages of both analog and digital tuning techniques. For both applications, theoretical work, simulations, fabrication and experimental results demonstrating the promising power of nanomagnets over structural rigidity are presented.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Deterre, Martin (Martin Michel Jacques)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• George Barbastathis.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61524

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/61524