Pattern-aligned carbon nanotube growth and tunable resonator apparatus

A tunable nanoresonator comprising:

• at least two support structures;
• a tuning power source for producing a tuning bias;
• an RF signal power device comprising at least one of an RF bias emitter and a bias detector;
• and
• at least one resonating carbon nanotube member, wherein both ends of the carbon nanotube member are fixedly attached to one of the at least two support structures and at least one portion of the member is suspended such that the portion is free to oscillate at a resonant frequency, the resonating member in signal communication with the tuning power source such that a tuning bias applied to the resonating member alters the resonant frequency of the resonating member, the resonating member in further signal communication with the signal, power device such that an RF bias applied to the resonating member by the RF signal power device induces an oscillatory motion in the resonating member and such that oscillatory motion of the resonating member induces a voltage or current measurable by the RF signal power device.

A tunable nanoresonator comprising:

• at least two support structures;
• a tuning power source for producing a tuning bias;
• a bias detector;
• and
• at least two resonating carbon nanotube members, wherein both ends of the at least two carbon nanotube members are fixedly attached to at least one of the at least two support structures and at least one portion of the member is suspended such that the portion is free to oscillate at a resonant frequency, the resonating member in signal communication with the tuning power source such that a tuning bias applied to the resonating member alters the resonant frequency of the resonating member, the resonating member in further signal communication with the bias detector such that an RF bias applied to the resonating member induces an oscillatory motion in the resonating member and such that oscillatory motion of the resonating member induces a voltage or current measurable by the bias detector.

A method of analyzing an frequency signal comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one nanoresonator including a support structure, a tuning power source for producing a tuning bias, a bias detector, and at least one resonating member, wherein at least one portion of the resonating member is fixedly attached to the support structure and at least one portion of the member is free to oscillate at a resonant frequency, the resonating member in signal communication with the tuning power source such that a tuning bias applied to the resonating member alters the resonant frequency of the resonating member, the resonating member in further signal communication with the bias detector such that oscillatory motion of the resonating member induces a voltage or current measurable by the bias detector;
• placing the nanoresonator into proximity of the frequency signal such that if the frequency of the frequency signal matches the resonant frequency of the resonating member the resonating member will undergo oscillatory motion;
• and
• measuring the potential on the resonating member and communicating the potential to user.