binve (< 20)

Measuring displacements on the scale of nanometers

June 18, 2012 – Comments (4)

Very cool and useful sensor technology development

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Measuring displacements on the scale of nanometers
June 18, 2012
http://phys.org/news/2012-06-displacements-scale-nanometers.html

European researchers are developing novel optical methods of detecting displacements on the scale of nanometres. Project results could have widespread application in areas as diverse as nanomanufacturing and the design of new touch screens.

Optical waveguides such as standard optical fibers are structures that ‘guide’ the flow of electromagnetic (EM) waves, transmitting light from one end to the other.

They are widely used in fibre optic displacement sensors to measure changes in distances related to movement of device components during perturbations. Such applications include aerospace turbine engines, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and even rocket sections during firing.

Advances in fiber-optic techniques have led to development of new devices capable of measuring very small displacements (microdisplacements) or vibrations. One such technique recently reported is based on physical contact of suspended silicon nanowire waveguides capable of precisely detecting in-plane displacements on the sub-nanometer scale.

European researchers initiated the NANO-DISP project to investigate theoretically and experimentally the technical parameters of the aforementioned setup with respect to effects on optical characteristics such as sensitivity and measurement range. .... [read more]