Modelling a suspended nanotube oscillator

Abstract

We present a general study of oscillations in suspended one-dimensional elastic systems clamped at each end, exploring a wide range of slack (excess length) and downward external forces. Our results apply directly to recent experiments in nanotube and silicon nanowire oscillators. We find the behavior to simplify in three well-defined regimes which we present in a dimensionless phase diagram. The frequencies of vibration of such systems are found to be extremely sensitive to slack.