Understanding the Quality Factor of Mass-Loaded Tensioned Resonators

Mass-loaded tensioned microresonators are important in mass-dependent applications like inertial sensing and fundamental research in e.g. quantum gravity, as they combine superb displacement detection with low mechanical dissipation. However, loading a resonator often changes its mode structure and enhances its mechanical loss. The authors study the effect of loading on mode quality factor, varying the load from much smaller to larger than the resonator's total mass. Surprisingly, the quality factor becomes independent of the mass in the large-load regime, which explains previous related results and provides fresh perspective for design.