Nanoguitars under pressure

Key question: How accurately can one measure low gas pressure in a simple and absolute manner?

Key result: A nanoguitar, consisting of highly tensioned strings sculpted on ultrathin dielectric drums, will allow for performing absolute pressure measurements with sensitivities beyond the state-of-the-art by monitoring the pressure-induced modifications of the string vibrations (frequencies, damping) with a laser.

Key impact: In addition to providing a possible new metrological standard for the absolute determination of pressure, the proposed sensors could be applied to the determination of the saturation vapor pressure of environmentally relevant particles, the environmental monitoring of air quality or industrial assessment of high vacuum environments.