We present the design, fabrication and experimental validation of a noveldevice that exploits the amplification of displacement and attenuation ofstructural stiffness in the post-buckling deformation of slender columns toobtain pico-Newton force and nanometer displacement resolution even under anoptical microscope. The extremely small size, purely mechanical sensing schemeand vacuum compatibility of the instrument makes it compatible with existingvisualization tools of nanotechnology. The instrument has a wide variety ofpotential applications ranging from electro-mechanical characterization of onedimensional solids to single biological cells.
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