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arXiv · 2103.06785

The Micromechanical Measurement of Photothermal Expansion

Luca Quaroni
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Abstract

In the present work I analyze the factors that affect signal generation in the measurement of photothermal expansion with an atomic force microscopy probe. I discuss the general properties of the signal transduction mechanism considering two forms of light excitation, progressive and impulsive, and I derive guidelines for the optimization of the measurement. I also provide a general framework to analyze the thermomechanical processes that underlie signal generation in terms of a thermodynamic engine cycle and I discuss the relationship between signal generation and efficiency of the mechanism. The work has been subdivided into sections for the sake of clarity.

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Luca Quaroni. 2021-03-11. The Micromechanical Measurement of Photothermal Expansion. https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.06785

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