All-optical actuation of amorphous chalcogenide-coated cantilevers

An extensive study has been carried out of the optical actuation of amorphous chalcogenide-coated cantilevers, wherein a reversible deflection up and down of such bimorph structures occurs under constant illumination with linearly polarized light, on rotating the polarization axis. The largest, and fastest, optically-induced cantilever displacement occurs for high-intensity actuating light having a photon energy comparable to the bandgap of the amorphous chalcogenide semiconductor.