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Optical fiber-based force transducer for microscale samples
R V Seshagiri Rao1, Chirag Kalelkar, Pramod A Pullarkat
1Biophysics Laboratory, Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore 560080, India.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|November 5, 2013
Summary
We developed the Micro-Extensional Rheometer (MER), a versatile instrument for measuring forces across eight decades. This device precisely controls extensional strain and force, enabling advanced rheological studies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Characterizing material properties at small scales requires precise force and displacement control.
- Existing rheometers often lack the dynamic range or resolution for complex biological and material systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the Micro-Extensional Rheometer (MER), a novel force transducer.
- To detail its design, instrumentation, calibration, and feedback control capabilities.
- To demonstrate its versatility for various rheometric protocols and applications.
Main Methods:
- Design and construction of a versatile force transducer with feedback control.
- Instrumentation enabling force measurement from 1-10^8 pN and displacement from 10-10^5 nm.
- Implementation of a feedback-loop algorithm for precise control of force or extensional strain.
Main Results:
- The Micro-Extensional Rheometer (MER) achieves a force range of eight decades and a displacement range of four decades.
- Spatial resolution is on the order of nanometers.
- The feedback control enables various rheometric protocols (step-strain, step-force, exponential strain).
Conclusions:
- The MER is a highly versatile instrument for rheological measurements.
- It is capable of probing forces in active biological systems and materials.
- The nanometer-scale resolution and broad dynamic range open new avenues in material and biophysical research.
