Large-capacity high-resolution optomechanical mass sensing based on free-space optical cavity

Area of Science:

• Optomechanics
• Sensor Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Precise mass sensing is crucial for quantitative analysis and material production.
• Existing sensors often face trade-offs between detection range and resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, simple, and low-cost optomechanical mass sensor.
• To achieve both a broad detection range and high resolving power simultaneously.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a free-space Fabry-Pérot optical cavity.
• Incorporated an intra-cavity wedge prism pair for optical displacement detection.
• Implemented a null-method-based scheme for mass measurement.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a novel optomechanical mass sensing system.
• Achieved a mass resolution higher than 5000:1.
• Covered a broad mass range from less than 200 mg to over 1 kg.
• Exhibited excellent linearity with R² > 0.99998.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensor offers simultaneous enhancement in resolution and capacity.
• This technology is suitable for precise quantitative content analysis and high-yield mass production.
• The simple and low-cost design facilitates practical applications.