Nanocavity optomechanical torque magnetometry and RF susceptometry

Nanophotonic optomechanical devices allow observation of nanoscale vibrations with sensitivity that has dramatically advanced metrology of nanomechanical structures [1-9] and has the potential to similarly impact studies of nanoscale physical systems [10, 11]. Here we demonstrate this potential with a nanophotonic optomechanical torque magnetometer and radio-frequency (RF) magnetic susceptometer. Exquisite readout sensitivity provided by a nanocavity integrated within a torsional nanomechanical resonator enables observations of the unique net magnetization and RF driven responses of single mesoscopic magnetic structures in ambient conditions. The magnetic moment resolution is sufficient for observation of Barkhausen steps in the magnetic hysteresis of a lithographically-patterned permalloy island [12]. In addition, significantly enhanced RF susceptibility is found over narrow field ranges and attributed to thermally-assisted driven hopping of a magnetic vortex core between neighboring pinning sites [13]. The on-chip magneto-susceptometer scheme offers a promising path to powerful integrated cavity optomechanical devices for quantitative characterization of magnetic micro- and nanosystems in science and technology.