Noise thermometry and electron thermometry of a sample-on-cantilever system below 1 Kelvin

We have used two types of thermometry to study thermal fluctuations in a microcantilever-based system below 1 K. We measured the temperature of a cantilever's macroscopic degree of freedom (via the Brownian motion of its lowest flexural mode) and its microscopic degrees of freedom (via the electron temperature of a metal sample mounted on the cantilever). We also measured both temperatures' response to a localized heat source. We find that it is possible to maintain thermal equilibrium between these two temperatures and a refrigerator down to at least 300 mK. These results are promising for ongoing experiments to probe quantum effects using micromechanical devices. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.