Study of the Nonlinear Dynamics of Micro-resonators Based on a Sn-Whisker in Vacuum and at mK Temperatures

The dynamics of mechanical resonators can be studied by two complementary methods allowing the measurements in two different domains: (i) in the frequency domain—by the frequency sweeps using cw-excitation and (ii) in the time domain—by the pulse techniques, when the free decay oscillations are investigated. We show that the dynamics of the Sn-whisker-based resonator studied by both methods can be described by a phenomenological Duffing theory. Furthermore, we present the results of a theoretical analysis based on this theory provided in frequency and in time domains, and we show that these results correspond to those acquired experimentally.