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Nanomechanical systems

Measuring more than mass

Nature Nanotechnology volume 2, pages 18–19 (2007)Cite this article

The response of a cantilever to bacteria deposited on it depends on the mechanical properties of the sample, as well as its mass. This effect needs to be considered in sensor design.

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Figure 1: Bacteria at different positions on a cantilever.
Figure 2: The presence of even a small amount of extra material, such as a few bacteria (yellow disk), on an oscillating cantilever changes its motion in ways that allow the mass and other properties of the material to be determined.

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  1. the School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, New York, USA

    Harold Craighead

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  1. Harold Craighead
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Craighead, H. Measuring more than mass. Nature Nanotech 2, 18–19 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2006.181

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