Carbon nanotube excitation system

Abstract

A carbon nanotube excitation system is disclosed. The excitation system is suitable to vibrate the nanotube and to excite at least one nanotube resonant frequency. Types of excitation systems include but are not limited to electromagnetic system having a coil or an antenna, mechanical system having piezoelectric elements, electrostatic system having capacitive element, electromagnetic system having a magnetic element, and electrostatic system having charged nanotube.

1 - 82 . (canceled)  
     
     
         83 . A device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    at least one nanotube extending from the support structure; and    an excitation system operable to vibrate the nanotube.    
     
     
         84 . A device in accordance with  claim 83 , wherein the nanotube is excited to at least one resonant frequency.  
     
     
         85 . A device in accordance with  claim 83 , wherein the nanotube comprises carbon.  
     
     
         86 . A device in accordance with  claim 83 , wherein the excitation system comprises a coil.  
     
     
         87 . A device in accordance with  claim 86 , wherein the coil operates to couple an electromagnetic field to the nanotube.  
     
     
         88 . A device in accordance with  claim 83 , wherein the excitation system comprises an antenna.  
     
     
         89 . A device in accordance with  claim 83 ,. wherein the excitation system comprises a piezoelectric element.  
     
     
         90 . A device in accordance with  claim 89 , wherein the piezoelectric element operates to couple mechanical energy to the nanotube.  
     
     
         91 . A device in accordance with  claim 83 , wherein the excitation system comprises a capacitive element.  
     
     
         92 . A device in accordance with  claim 91 , wherein the capacitive element operates to couple an electrostatic field to the nanotube.  
     
     
         93 . A device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    at least one nanotube extending from the support structure, wherein the nanotube has a free end opposite the attachment to the support structure;    a magnetic element coupled to the nanotube near the free end of the nanotube; and    an excitation system operable to excite the nanotube to at least one resonant frequency.    
     
     
         94 . A device in accordance with  claim 93 , wherein the excitation system comprises a coil.  
     
     
         95 . A device in accordance with  claim 94 , wherein the excitation system comprises a tank circuit.  
     
     
         96 . A device in accordance with  claim 94 , wherein the coil operates to couple an electromagnetic field to the magnetic element.  
     
     
         97 . A device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    at least one nanotube extending from the support structure, wherein the nanotube is electrically charged;    an excitation system operable to excite the electrically charged nanotube to at least one resonant frequency    
     
     
         98 . A device in accordance with  claim 97 , wherein the excitation system comprises a capacitive element.  
     
     
         99 . A device in accordance with  claim 98 , wherein the capacitive element operates to couple an electrostatic field to the charged nanotube.  
     
     
         100 . A device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    at lest one nanotube grown directly onto and extending from the support structure; and    an excitation system operable to vibrate the nanotube.