Optical determination of Young's modulus of InAs nanowires

We present a study of Young's modulus of epitaxially grown InAs nanowires with diameters from 40 to 95 nm. The dynamic behavior of the nanowires is investigated using optical stroboscopic imaging. The Young's modulus, evaluated using the eigenfrequencies of the fundamental and the first excited modes in air, decreases for smaller diameters. To avoid the influence of the electric field on the resonance frequency, we use the free ring-down response to a voltage step rather than driving with a harmonic voltage. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3225150]