Mechanical resonators featuring large tensile stress have enabled a range of experiments in quantum optomechanics and precision sensing. Many sensing applications require functionalizing tensioned resonators by appending additional mass to them. However, this may dramatically change the resonator mode quality factor, and hence its sensitivity. In this work, we investigate the effect of the crossover from no mass load to a large mass load on the mode shape and quality factor of a tensioned resonator. We show through an analytical model and finite element analysis that as the load mass increases, surprisingly, the resonator mode shape becomes independent of the exact load mass, and, therefore, the resonator mode quality factor saturates. We validate this saturation effect experimentally by measuring the quality factor of a tensioned silicon nitride trampoline resonator while varying the load mass in a controlled manner.

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• Acoustics
• Elasticity
• Mechanical & acoustical properties
• Mechanical deformation
• Stress
• Micromechanical devices
• Permanent magnets
• Optical interferometry